Quin arranged his features into one of mock astonishment, as if he would ever poison something! His entire Hogwarts career he'd had Skeeter constantly hissing at him, don't use that, it's poisonous! Quin was now very well-versed in what he could and could not use for sweets; and if he wasn't sure, he just shot an owl to Mason.

Taking a sip of his own lemonade, Quin watched poor Miss Dahlia's entire demeanor change and he worried for a moment he'd said something wrong, when she exclaimed something about her sister. The one who had likely been chaperoning her. Oh, yes. That was a problem. He tended to forget that being in places like his kitchen alone with young ladies was not looked upon favorably. Ah shit.

"It's okay, I'm alright, take a deep breath." Quin gingerly and hopefully discreetly swiped a hand over the bite to ascertain as to whether he needed to change his pants before he walked Miss Dahlia home. Fortunately he couldn't feel a hole and hopefully Dahlia would have said something while he was making lemonade if she had noticed. "I'll walk you home or to the shop." Quin said as he pulled another long sip of his lemonade. In a matter of moments, her truffles (plus a few more things) were safely tucked inside a box to hopefully make up for the disaster.

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Dahlia's eyes locked onto Mr. Honeyduke's as he reassured her all was right. That it all was alright. Hopefully her sister had seen the whole thing (giant goose included) and understood the situation. Perhaps she was even acquainted with Mr. Honeyduke. Dahlia nodded at his words, giving herself a moment to stop and think. He was right, it was alright, she hadn't been kidnapped, she was still in her body, and things could most certainly be very much worse.

As her pulse slowed and Mr. Honeyduke swept her truffles into a box, Dahlia began to feel foolish again. He probably thought her prone to hysterics now - or worse, as a child. She flushed pink again and took another sip of her lemonade to cool off. How foolish she had been and now, when she had so hoped to have a chance just like this after their letters, she had gone and botched it all. "Home." She agreed, after all her sister had likely gone home first to tell their parents and drop off the kids if she'd had to go to the shop after.

As she stood up she tried to discreetly look at where the goose had bit him, but he was standing facing her so instead she had to peer into his face instead. "Are you sure you're alright?" She asked, concern written on her feautures.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Relieved that Miss Potts seemed to calm down after a moment of panic. "I believe so, as long as there's no holes and I look indecent out in public, we'll be fine." He chuckled, trying to break the ice. He obviously couldn't ask her to look for him, as that would be embarrassing for both of them, but was hopefully not the case. Barely resisting the urge to look over his should and try and check himself, Quin polished off his lemonade and banished the fixings to the sink.

"Let me just pack up a couple more things and we can set off." Packing a "sorry" box seemed like he was admitting guilt to something, but he did feel bad about abducting Miss Potts and worrying her family needlessly. Fortunately she had come to her senses while he was busy making lemonade and trying to be suave. What a dunce.

Motioning for her to follow him, Quin grabbed another treat box and moved through the doors that led to the shop. He grabbed a few more things from the case next to the till and then stacked some fudge in for good measure. "You live here in town right?" He figured it was probably Bartonburg, over by the park if he wasn't mistaken, but his memory for addresses was not as good as it was for favorite sweets.

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"I won't let you go out indecently." Dahlia rashly promised as if it were one of her friends and not a gentleman whom she had begun to form a crush on over the course of their letters. Of course it was only after she said the words that Dahlia realized what she'd said and blushed again, unable to look at him out of the sheer adacity of her forwardness. Instead she busied herself with the last few sips of her lemonade.

"Oh, there's no need." Dahlia tried to protest as she slipped off the stool and followed him. It felt like a useless cause to protest, after all he always included thoughtful treats with his letters. But still, what type of lady would she be if her didn't protest?

As they stepped into the store Dahlia tried not to focus on what Mr. Honeyduke was doing. Instead she watched the people until he addressed her and she noticed that a second box was closed in front of him. "Yes." She smiled at him, adding, "By the park."

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin didn't hear her protest, nor her assurances, he was too busy boxing things up, which really wasn't a big deal. It was sort of a miracle he was still even in business with the amount of free product he gave away, but business never seemed to suffer from it. Packing it all up quickly, Quin grabbed his trusty delivery basket from behind the counter and set everything in.

For a moment he watched Miss Potts survey the shop and he decided that she looked like she fit right in. He wasn't sure what to do with that information, but he also decided he liked it. With the information that she lived over by the park, Quin was pleased to know that at least the walk would extend their time together. He was being a little selfish sure, but over the course of their letters Quin had enjoyed getting to know Miss Dahlia, so continuing the trend in person was even more appealing.

Finally, he was ready to go and so he gestured toward the door, holding it open for her. His staff knew he came and went with the wind during the day, so they were unperturbed by his exit. As long as he went back and did the dishes later, all would be well. "Which way?" He said as he joined her on the street.

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Following Mr. Honeyduke out of the store she realized that despite the summer heat it was nice to get a breathe of fresh air in here aching lungs. The moment she got home, she determined, she was taking off her bloody corset.

"This way." She gestured in answer to his question.

As they began to walk Dahlia found herself starting back toward their previous conversation. "So," She started slowly a bit of a mischevious grin on her face, "If you didn't poison your staff, why are they leery?"

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Allowing her to lead the way, Quin slowed his stride unintentionally, trying to prolong their conversation. He also tended to move quickly all the time; Quin really only had one speed, and it was fast. This was a good reminder to slow down and enjoy something other than work for once. Something else he was reminded of often.

Miss Potts paid attention, that was for sure. Something Quin could not often be accused of, but did appreciate. "Well," He chuckled, looking at her sideways. "Though they may not be poisonous, sometimes the after effects are still not pleasant." It wasn't always his fault either!

"After I spent several months as a duck after trying a colleague's new treat, I can understand people can be a little wary." It was completely understandable. "They try the normal ones with new flavors no problem, just the magical ones give them pause." He hadn't come up with anything good lately anyway. He wondered if Gus would indulge him if he did though. The bloke could single-handedly keep him in business if necessary.

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"After effects?" Dahlia echoed curiously. "Such as?"

But then his words stopped her line of questioning. "As a duck?" Surprise coated her words. "I feel like you may need to indulge me in the story there." Surely there had to be more than he'd spent a few weeks as a duck. One didn't just drop such a statement into a conversation not expecting to tell the whole story.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

The duck story really was a good one, and now that it was several years out now he could laugh about it. He started out with a chuckle, "Well, I was working with a young novice confectioner who happened to be a potions genius," Miss Teague had certainly been quite the sweets enthusiast and very talented with potions, but it hadn't translated too well to the magical side of treats. "The intention was to produce a truffle that when finished, would make the one eating it quack." Had it been pulled off, it would have been hilarious.

"Considering I'm not too bright and not too shy about trying new things, I took a bite and then subsequently spent the better part of that year as a fat mallard until an antidote was found." It had been a long few months in which he went to the shop, squawked at employees and patrons alike from the tops of the shelves trying to get someone to notice him. Miss Teague had sort of kept it under wraps, which was understandable and he had never given away who had accidentally transfigured him, but he'd had to tell everyone something when he'd unexpectedly returned from nowhere.

"I'll never eat duck again, that's for sure." He laughed more sincerely now, shaking his head a little. "It was a wild ride."

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The idea of a candy that made you quack was entertaining, she might have purchased one to give to one of her sisters when they drove her mad. But she could definitely see the hazard in trying to create such a thing. She had never really thought about how magical candy was tested, but she was beginning to suspect it was rather an adventerous process.

By the time Mr. Honeyduke had finished the retelling Dahlia was trying to hide her laughter behind her gloved hand. "Oh dear!" She found herself saying as she finally braved moving her hand away, although trying to look serious only seemed to make her smile want to creep back wider. "Did they call you Mr. Honeyduck then?" She found herself teasing as if they had been friends for a long time.

"Surely though, you haven't turned any of your staff into a duck?" She added her eyes slightly wider as she hoped to prod him for more stories.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

The incident was far enough in the past that Quin could laugh along with Miss Potts without feeling bitter about it. Still felt like it was yesterday, but maybe time passed differently as a water fowl. Her quip had him laughing loudly as he marveled at her wit. "No, but they should have!" It was a clever twist on his name certainly and would have fit the situation perfectly. Iona had come up with a name for him while turned, but for the life of him he could not remember it, only that she had made him sleep in a baby bassinet. A wild ride indeed.

"I have not, but I did leave my manager completely blue one time." He grimaced. That had been fun to try and fix. He had always been quite familiar with the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad. "They do their fair share working around the shop, I don't need them to test much either, not when I have willing friends." Quin was positive Gus Lissington would try anything Quin had to share, if asked.

Adjusting the basket in his hand, Quin realized he had been the subject of conversation for much too long. "Have you settled into the family business Miss Potts or have you chosen a different direction?" Merlin's beard, she had graduated right? Suddenly he felt old.

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Dahlia's teasing was rewarded with a laugh and she found herself grinning broadly that he had not taken offense to it. She hadn't quite thought through teasing him as she might a sister or a friend, but it seemed easy to be around him so she supposed that was why she had done so.

"Blue?" She gasped in mock horror. "I do hope he was able to return to normal." She added. "It does make sense though. Not to subject them." And for her part, even knowing the dangers, she was still fairly certain she'd test anything Mr. Honeyduke put her way, if only because it gave her more of a chance to talk with him. Or write him, as the case had been until now.

And then the topic changed to her. "It suits me for now." Dahlia admitted with a sheepish smile, "But I'm certainly the least plant inclined of my family." Although until she was married the shop would have to do, not that she could tell him that. Perhaps it would be safe to add about baking though, she thought. "I'd much rather spend my time in a kitchen then with the greenhouses." For one thing, it made her sneeze less. For another she simply felt more comfortable.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

"She's quite fine, fortunately didn't hold it against me either, but that was the last time anybody offered to try something new." They were more than willing to try new flavor combinations and more muggle treats, just not the magical ones. It all worked out.

Quin could understand how at least one (or more) of the Potts girls would seek fulfillment somewhere else. All of them having the same interests would be shocking really. Emery preferred to bake than make sweets, while his father was a confectioner by trade and Quin did a little bit of everything. Then again it was only the two of them, not seven, the probability was a bit higher. "You do bake quite well," Quin agreed with a smile. "If you want the full range of the kitchen at the shop to try out anything new, please let me know. I have just about everything you could ever want in there." The very neatly organized pantry (thanks to his manager) held what felt like every baking ingredient imaginable. "And if I don't have it, I can probably get my hands on it."

Quin adjusted the basket on his arm easily, making notes of where they were headed so he could make his way home, but also because he was curious to see where the Potts family made their home.

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Ah well that explained it. "That's a shame, I suspect they are missing out on some good - even if a bit dangerous." She smiled at the word it didn't seem quite the right one so it held another hint of teasing to it.

At his compliment she blushed and looked down at her skirts as they continued forward. "Thank you." She demurred.

Then he did the unthinkable and offered her his kitchen. "That's too generous." Dahlia knew she'd never be allowed, but the thought was tempted. She also was raised better than to take him up on such a kind offer.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

"They're very well taken care of, don't you worry." Quin paid his employees well and fed them every day, so he didn't think they truly had much to complain about. Aside from the dishes. The dishes were pretty bad. He did a lot of them himself though!

Shrugging, Quin wasn't sure if he'd overstepped or if she was just being polite. "Invitation's always open, if you want." He assured her, hoping to let her know that he meant it without trying to push too hard. Anybody interested in baking should have the opportunity to enjoy it, and use a kitchen like his at least once in his life. "Bring along a sister or two if you like." There he was done. No more incentives.

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"Thank you." Dahlia looked at him with a sincere smile. But at his next comment she chuckled, "I suspect they feel as out of place there as I do in a greenhouse. But I wouldn't mind some company if I did." She dared to say, another smile on her lips. She'd much rather Mr. Honeyduke's company if she were to be in the kitchen.

Before she could regret her words too much she realized they were at the front path of her home. "This is it." She told him stopping at the gate and turning to face him. "Thank you for walking me home."

  

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Pretties by Bee <3