ddraigemrys

[ddraigemrys]

@thegraveyardshifts

Llewellyn was wrapping up for the day, thinking about nothing else but the warm comfort of his own bed and a nice glass of wine to go with it. It was a slow day for him, mostly working on finishing orders and requests. He actually liked days like this. Sure, he didn't have as much revenue coming through the door as he liked, but it also meant that he didn't have to talk to a lot of people which he did like.

Right as the clock was ticking closer and closer to his closing time, the front door bell chimed and Llewellyn sighed. He had half a mind to just turn the person away, but when he saw who it was he stopped himself.

"Coming in at the final hour aren't we, Maddox? I assume you're here for something, yes?"

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He gave Knox a look, "You know...komodo dragons are capable of taking out water buffalos with their bite, as that is their nature prey. And 3mg of taipan venom can kill an adult male. I'm sure you and I can assume I'd have no issue taking out a gator as well".

Of course Llewellyn knew what Knox was talking about, he had the weapons finished last week and was just putting off contacting the other. He liked it more when people came to him. "I hope you weren't expecting anything ornate. You have to pay extra for that". He went to the back to retrieve the box, then came back and set it on the counter. "Take a look. You'll find what you asked for inside".

Had they been around Mathias, Knox would've hold back a lil, but their Master ain't there and this ain't a crowded place either. So really snapping his teeth at someone is nothing new for them.

"Llewellyn, darling, stop flirting with me. I don't know how the daggers look cause I gave your sassy ass creative liberty." Knox laughs. Goddamn this guy was infuriating and handsome, which made them want to slap them around half the time. They still chuckle though. The shifter is such a damn brat! Part of the charm they suppose, but also, Llewellyn gets away with it 'cause they're fucking good at their job.

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"It's one of my few joys in life". Llewellyn dreamed of a dragon's hoard. Keeping it far away from greedy hands as he retired on a beach or in the mountains somewhere. Hiding and being powerful were useful skills to have. It was especially helpful when running from a coven like Meg had. "Well congrats on staying out of their sight for as long as you have. This is a perfect city to start new in too. With all the fun that goes on in and out of the shadows here, I'm sure they'll never find you. Have you settled in well?".

Meg crossed her arms and smirked, noticing how he was surprised to see her, if anything she was grateful for him helping her out, even though she knew what he had done came with a price she was still waiting on paying. " so you kept saying...a decade ago. You're still loaded, congrats, Llew." she said rolling her eyes and smiling. She walked further inside, looking around, so many stuff, so much power he probably didn't know objects hold such power. " I'm good at hiding...and very powerful, apparently." she said, back then Meg didn't know how much power she had in her, even when her coven said so, she only had a taste of it when she was running for her life.

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Reptiles had developed fascinating evolutions during their time on the planet. Receptors that allowed them to taste scents on the air, or even being able to pick up thermal radiation in some species. It was a small feature in the grand scheme of things, but one that Llewellyn greatly appreciated. It helped him more often than not. Like being able to know when someone was following him, or if a threat was coming. It also triggered when one of his many annoyances made an appearance.

While gang members were his most common customer, it didn't mean Llew had to enjoy their company. He watched in unamusement as Kaz came to the counter. "You aren't getting a BOGO, so get that out of your head. What do you want, Kazimir?"

Kazimir was not really good at waiting in line. And this guy in front of them in the store was taking too long. They'd walked out and back in not wanting to just behind the talker. When they saw Llewellyn look up at them they grinned and reaching out grabbed the guys arm and put it in an easy lock, steering them out the front door before putting their booted foot against the annoyance's ass and shoving them out to sprawl against the sidewalk.

Kazya put their hands in their pockets and came back to the counter. "Fifty percent yeah? You give me BOGO I'll come back and do another free vermin removal."

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Llewelly was always amused at how other shifters openly showed off. So animalistic, so terrifying. He never did that of course, there was no real need for it for him. He preferred to shift when it was really necessary, and when he did, he wanted to be unnoticed. Well as unnoticeable as a giant lizard and eight foot long snake could be.

"Wow. How impressive. Do you take that show on the road too?". He folded his hands on the desk and shrugged, "I have daggers that I sell, I'm not sure if they are your daggers. Do you have a better description for them or do you expect me to just know what you're talking about?"

Knox needed something they'd ordered some time ago. They liked custom-made weapons and Llewellyn could provide that. They hadn't expected to be needed for anything else than their money, but 50% was a good bargain when they were about to get their new toy. So they tap on the stranger's shoulder and when they turn around, Knox eyes have changed and so have their mouth growing wide with too many pointy teeth. They snap their teeth together into the stranger's face and watch them run out of the store in fear.

"And done." They say, face returning to normal. "Llewellyn. Hello. Do you have my daggers?"

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Before Llew had come to New Orleans or even just the states in general, he had made a name for himself in Europe. Back then he did more than sell and make weapons, he sometimes dabbled in different practices too. Like making a person disappear. It wasn't something he often did but with the money he had it was quiet easy. Whether is was someone trying to leave an abusive household, or someone trying to restart their lives with a secret lover, Llewellyn helped with it. It did all come at a cost, as all things did with him, and people happily paid it.

Meg had been one of those people he helped. He was somewhat surprised to see her walking through his shop door. "Perseverance, darling. That and I have a lot of money. I should be asking how you're still alive".

Meg had heard Llew had come to NOLA, why that was, she was still going to figure out, not today, not tomorrow, but eventually. Clearly, he wasn't after her or else she would've known, although with so many protection spells she had around her shop and place, it was hard to recognize friend from foe. Crossing her arms as she saw the exchange of words between the two people, she waited out. Smiling to the person that had clearly just been expelled from his shop, she turned. " Sorry, my friend here is just sensitive today, why not come back at a later time... Say never." She whispered to the person as she opened the door and accompanied them out. " You know, your manners clearly haven't changed since two decades ago... How are you still alive? " She smirked.

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"I enjoy theater every so often" Llewellyn replied. A trap door sounded dramatic and expensive, but it could perhaps be useful at some point. Although, Llew didn't need a trap door to scare away customers. The venom in his teeth did a damn good job at that.

He was honestly surprised Em was willing to forgo the discount for the gun. It showed he was serious about owning it and didn't want to risk Llewellyn saying no. "Cash value and a favor it is. I do enjoy having gang members indebted to me. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside".

"I am highly offended that you think I was trying to imply that you were a Londoner, yet impressed you understood my reference. Regardless of the fact, you ought to consider it." With that, despite being highly amused, Emiliano moved on. Damn you, he thought to himself. Besides his core people he damned everyone who he found himself liking to be around. There weren’t many people that he genuinely liked, but damn it was Rhys one of them. Would Em ever admit that outloud? Probably not.

At the question about pricing he takes a moment to think, glancing around the shop as he does. Emiliano was willing give a lot to gain this power, and he’d pay whatever Llewellyn named. The problem was, such a weapon deserved more than just the value of cash, but, what could he have to offer the other? Honestly, he didn’t really know. His gaze finds its way back to the other’s face, “Your cash value, saving the fifty percent for a future purchase, and an owed favor. If that doesn’t satisfy you, then name your price.”

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Llewellyn let out an audible exhale. Gods grant him strength. Now he was aware that people came from all different types of backgrounds, and that English wasn't guaranteed to be their first language. Perhaps in the future he'd think about putting other languages on the sign to help translate. Sadly he wasn't thinking too hard about that now, and was instead trying not to snap at the poor woman.

"And I think you must have just been born yesterday or something". His eyes narrowed as he got closer. It was so very tempting to snap at her, the need to posture and show his fangs like a snake was really hard to ignore. "Do you mind backing up. You're breathing my air".

丨 amma turned her head toward the sign gestured to but only gave it a fleeting and indifferent glance; reading was not her strong suit. " how am i supposed to know what that even says? " she gave an indignant shrug and crossed her arms over her chest, jutting her chin toward the sign, " it's written in gibberish. " selkies did not have a written language, their language was all in vocal sounds and facial expressions and so her features were all very expressive when she spoke. she knew some words of the written land language, usually ones that would lead back to the water, and had been learning the words on the menu at the place she worked but most words still held mysterious meanings for the selkie.

丨 " hah, " she left the cylinder where she had set it down and started to walk toward the man, " you say a lot of funny things, " she leaned her elbows against the counter and leaned in closer to him, " i don't think you know what a cylinder even is, " she accused daringly. despite her mortal appearance, amma carried herself with a very animalistic nature, meaning that she cared nothing for such things that were socially constructed such as boundaries and personal space and so as she leaned in closer, she leaned in very close and held her sightline to his. that is until she tilted her gaze and noticed his hair. her eyes narrowed slightly, looking at him but indirectly, no longer at his eyes but to somewhere just beside.

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"You're lucky if I don't forget about it in the next five minutes". Because realistically, Llewellyn was just kidding about the discount. If anything, he'd offer five percent but nothing higher. He did have a business to run.

"Come with me then, don't touch anything". He led Henry to the back of his shop, where all the weapons were. The basic ones were out on display, while the magical ones were locked up under warded locks that only Llewellyn could open. "Feel free to browse, if you have questions, ask".

Henry can be very patient when he wants something or obsessing over someone, but he finds it time consuming to play pretend. The only time he'll willing do something like that would be to save his life.

"I forgot to bring my booklet with me, make sure to keep that gold star for later. And why don't you show me what's new and I'll decide for myself. I'm sure if I come back an other day you'll forget the discount."

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BEN BARNES as THE DARKLING Shadow & Bone • 2021

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Llewellyn rolled his eyes. Even around people he did like, the RBF never went away nor did the attitude. Some would say that he should have been a cat shifter, as he matched their attitude the most. "I understand my accent may sound like a Londoner but I am anything but. And I certainly am not a demon barber".

Every so often Llewellyn would get requests for weapons. They were usually special and highly powerful, and also not something easy to get his hands on. So when he did get, or if he did, they were a heavy price. "Hmm, perhaps I do". Of course he knew what the gun was, and he did have it. A beautiful revolver, with magic etched into the barrel and the bullets. No blood would be shed, but instead the deepest darkest secrets would fall from the victim's mouth. A more direct method compared to what happened during the Solstice. "The real question is what are you willing to pay to have it".

The response from the other had managed to crack his serious demeanor for a split second, even tugging the corners of his lips upwards into just the smallest of side smiles. Not many could do something like that, but not many people were like the business owner before him either.

“Time is money or whatever the saying is,” Em jokes, even if his tone was very deadpan. He walks back to the counter, “Hello, Rhys." He pauses, looking down at the spot he was standing in, " You know, right here,” he taps the ground with his right foot, “I think would be a great spot for a trapped door. A swift push of a button behind the counter, and no more annoyances.” Like Sweeney Todd but these people wouldn’t die with a stylish new shave.

He looks back to the other male, “My birds tell me you’ve gotten your hands on a very special gun I’ve been looking for." Em goes on to jog Llewellyn's memory a bit, describing the gun as if it were the most beautiful thing he had ever heard of, needless to say, he's more than happy to talk about the weapon enchanted with bullets designed not to kill you, but to reveal truth to even your darkest secrets. He longed for such a thing for many reasons, but mostly because he wanted it in his possession rather than that of an enemy. "So, is it true? Do you have it?"

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Llewellyn said nothing else on the subject. Because advances weren't always made out of interest. Sometimes people did to gain something else entirely.

"Well it seems you've already come up with a solution to your problem. I'm proud of you, Henry" Llewellyn replied. "Sometimes is the key word here. I'm really feeling like we're making progress with you today Henry, make sure you put a gold star on your chart on your way out today".

"I would've made a move by now if I was interested. And my heart is already taken." He's exaggerating a bit, but as attractive as Henry things Llewellyn is he's a bit too much on the asshole side for him—one jerk per couple is enough. Hery has a soft spot for the kind men that takes the lead. He wants to be fucking pampered. Someone like Llewellyn is more likely to be a dick 24/7.

"Really?! Fuck me, if only I knew someone who could sell stuff like that. Wait—me!" He half rolls his eyes. "Your ancients artefacts sometimes have something of great value inside of them that cannot be found anywhere. That's what I'm looking for."

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"Well darling if you would look to the right of you, you'd see a sign that says do not touch. I usually expect people to have some reading comprehension when they come in here, but I suppose that it my mistake". Someone once told him that patience was a virtue, but what did patience mean to someone like Llewellyn? Jack shit.

"It's for recordings. Back then when they didn't have phones or tapes, they would use the cylinders to record things. Much like vinyl records".

丨 the man said words but they meant nothing to the selkie. individually the words held meaning, vintage was old stuff, wax came from candles, cylinder was a shape and player was some kind of action or sometimes an item as it seemed this was one such player. though sometimes player also meant a person and that was confusing. putting all those words together therefore meant nothing for her because in her mind they combined into an old candle that was a shape but this did not look at all like a candle. it looked like it was made of wood and was box shaped, not at all cylinder shaped. she cast the man a strange and confused side-eyed glance thinking perhaps he did not know his shapes, before she looked back to the object in her hands. " if it's so fragile why have it out? what's the point if you can't touch it? " she did put it down though if only because he said it was expensive and she couldn't afford expensive.

丨 " is it for games? " she asked, since she'd been thinking about that electric system she didn't understand before, she naturally thought it might be similar. that was also some kind of player and expensive. once set back down, she gave it a little tap with her finger.

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It was amazing what the promise of a bargain would do to people. Violence wasn't new to Llewellyn, he was an arms dealer after all, and also he had been known to get physical every so often. Seeing Emiliano easily dispose of the annoyance brought a smile to his face.

"Hello to you too Emiliano. It's great to see you're still straight to the point. Remind me again what it is you want? You know I get many requests in this city, it's hard to keep up".

There were not many things that brought excitement to Emiliano these days, but the news he had gotten of a particular item in stock was worth being excited about. Upon entering Llewellyn's place of business, Em is greeted by an interesting interaction between the business owner and a fellow customer. He lets out annoyed sigh before walking up to the root of Llewellyn's current annoyance. A hand reaches out to grip onto the back of their shirt, kicking the back of one of their knees in so they lost their balance, practically dragging them across the shop and tossing them out. He didn't have time to be wasted by people like that and fifty percent off was a pretty good deal. "Well?" He walks back in Llewellyn's direction, "Do you have it?"

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Llewellyn rolled his eyes, "You say that now". Because eventually people had big eyes for his horde and would do whatever it took to get their hands on it. Greed was a tempting thing.

"You do know there are actual shops and sellers who have those things correct? You do not have to come to me, a weapons dealer, for things like that".

"I'm not trying to get with you anywhere Llewellyn. At least, not with you." Henry knows if the shifter hated him, he'd know by now. Whatever this is—regular acquaintances?! Who the fuck knows—they're not trying to kill each other, so that works for the both of them.

"I'm always looking for the same thing. Something worth turning into an ingredient for a potion, or worth collecting. Something old and rare." Dried plants, old spell book, a mummy even!

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