rabastan had never cared about the customer service aspect of his job, in fact, he’d been known to go out of his way to avoid being polite towards the patrons of the apothecary. it was a wonder he hadn’t been fired, but perhaps he was just that talented of a potioneer. yet, he couldn’t help but regret his method of delivering the warning to the father. or maybe he could just tell how angry the older male seemed to be, and he wanted to avoid an altercation. but whatever the reason, he apologized.
“i’m sorry- it’s just store policy that children have to be accompanied by adults,” rabastan explained, pausing to think over his choice in words. “we don’t want any accidental ingestion of potions,” he added, this time accompanied by a nervous laugh. “your son seems smart, i’m sure he knows better,” he continued, before adding “i’ll go check on the rose oil.” having brought their conversation to a rather abrupt end, rabastan quickly ducked behind the curtain, scowling at an amused coworker as he moved to check the stock.
it didn’t take long for rabastan to locate the rose oil, but he took his time returning to the front of the store. he was in no real hurry to come face to face with the older male, though he knew he had to do it sooner or later. “we only had one vial,” he explained, setting it down on the counter. “and i couldn’t help but notice this isn’t the first time you’ve been in,” he continued, surprising even himself for remembering such a detail. “have you thought about placing an order? that way we can make sure to have plenty in stock-”
Adonis softened, a bit, at Rabastan’s apology. While he didn’t know exactly what the other man was playing at, he did know that many people didn’t trust children. It was fair, although Marcus had always been more behaved than most. “Like I said, he won’t go out of my sight. I promise.” Even as he said the words, his son always stayed within eye distance, eyes scanning row after row of flowers. A part of him wondered if Marcus would grow up with a passion for potioneering, like his uncle. A part of him wondered why he’d held back for so long on seeing the merits in this business. Adonis felt guilty that he hadn’t seen it until he needed it. Until he relied on it.
“Thank you,” he said, watching as the man disappeared behind the curtain, and he turned around to watch Marcus, who was running up to him with a flower. It looked like an Iris, but Adonis had never been quite sure. The return of his voice voice shook Adonis from his thoughts, though, and he returned to the counter, a bit shocked that the other man recognized him. “Oh... yes, I’ve been having some, um, health issues,” he said, managing a small toothless smile. Adonis barely knew the shop-keeper, after all, and he wasn’t about to scare him off with a flash of his fangs.
“No one has recommended that to me before,” he said, with a shake of his head. “You think they would, because like I said I’ve--” And he was cut off by Marcus, who was standing on his tip-toes holding up the flower just so that it would show above the counter. His little voice rang out asking Rabastan what type of flower it was, and Adonis couldn’t help but smile fondly. “Well, it seems I spoke too soon on the whole, he won’t touch anything part,” he said, raising a brow at his son who smiled, sheepishly. Quickly, though, Adonis looked at the man. “I’d like to place an order and, well, if you wouldn’t mind? I think he’s been looking to make one of the beginner’s potions.”
