July 18th, 1893 — Diagon Alley Herbalist's Shop
The woman ahead of him was taking an inordinately long time looking at these plants. At least, Ozymandias thought she was taking an excessive time — the truth was that he was just particularly impatient today. He didn't have a wealth of patience at the best of times, and even less when he was chasing the fickle inspiration that preceded a successful invention. He wouldn't have minded how long anyone was taking at their shopping, of course, if she hadn't been stood right in his way while she contemplated. Was this going to take much longer? He was almost contemplating leaving the shop and going somewhere else entirely in pursuit of the ingredient he needed. It would have taken longer, probably, but at least he'd be in motion. That, and the shop would lose his business. A small and entirely irrational part of him thought they deserved that, for letting such languid customers loiter in their aisles.
He didn't know if there was another shop in Diagon that would sell what he needed, though, and he hated going to Hogsmeade when he could possibly avoid it. He shifted his weight to the other foot, visibly annoyed that she kept looking for whatever she was looking for. She could at least have moved aside and let him go ahead, he thought — he already knew precisely what he needed, so it would only have taken a moment. But she wasn't moving — irritatingly, she did not even appear to have noticed him. Ozymandias cleared his throat. She still did not look in his direction. He cleared his throat again, more loudly. "Excuse me, do you work here?" he asked. He was almost positive she didn't, but he had exhausted his polite intervention methods, so had reached the point of subtly insulting inquiry.
He didn't know if there was another shop in Diagon that would sell what he needed, though, and he hated going to Hogsmeade when he could possibly avoid it. He shifted his weight to the other foot, visibly annoyed that she kept looking for whatever she was looking for. She could at least have moved aside and let him go ahead, he thought — he already knew precisely what he needed, so it would only have taken a moment. But she wasn't moving — irritatingly, she did not even appear to have noticed him. Ozymandias cleared his throat. She still did not look in his direction. He cleared his throat again, more loudly. "Excuse me, do you work here?" he asked. He was almost positive she didn't, but he had exhausted his polite intervention methods, so had reached the point of subtly insulting inquiry.
MJ is the light of my life <3