“if you’re looking for some poison, i guarantee this place won’t give you the best kind. believe me, i tried.” knox hummed quietly to the person next to her while she had been eyeing a particular-looking antique through a store window. it was a skeleton hand, of course. nothing to out of the ordinary for this alley. “and no, i’m not promoting my business—there’s honestly way better poisons out there than what knockturn has to offer—well at least the illegal kind that doesn’t get shut down by a bunch of aurors.”

knox understandingly when the other clarified. she glanced at the locket and hummed, "yes, that is pretty. obviously cursed--possibly less subtle than poison but pretty nonetheless." she tucked her hands behind her back, with a thoughtful expression on her face. "i would gift it to someone than keep it for myself. but that's just me i suppose." maybe it was a little mean, maybe a little cruel, knox didn't care to acknowledge it.

"excuse me," and before she - or anyone else, for that matter - can take another step into the familiar great hall, she reaches out to touch their elbow and bring them to a stop. it's an attention drawing movement that screams pulling aside a member of staff over starting a catch up conversation with a one time peer, and the friendly smile that pansy turns onto them is equal parts dazzling and false. her other hand motions towards the dozens of tables and chairs which have been arranged around the room in place of the four house tables, and there is somethig... careful to the cluelessness with which she asks, "perhaps you might be able to direct me towards the slytherin area of this little soiree... ? i'm a tad confused on the... boundaries, here."

"to be honest with you?" knox hummed while looking around the great hall herself for the sixth time that evening. she crossed her arms, "i think whoever planned this event might be going for an interhouse theme here. hence the unmarked tables." knox herself didn't much care for the idea nor did she much care for sitting with her own house from time to time. but she remembered a teacher tried pushing it back in school and she absolutely hated the idea. seems as if nothing's changed. "i could be wrong--though there's been little shown to prove me wrong so far."

“if you’re looking for some poison, i guarantee this place won’t give you the best kind. believe me, i tried.” knox hummed quietly to the person next to her while she had been eyeing a particular-looking antique through a store window. it was a skeleton hand, of course. nothing to out of the ordinary for this alley. “and no, i’m not promoting my business—there’s honestly way better poisons out there than what knockturn has to offer—well at least the illegal kind that doesn’t get shut down by a bunch of aurors.”

"hands on? mmm," knox gave a small pout but shrugged. "suit yourself but poison's much more delicate in my opinion." she watched with little intrigue as the other examined the options on display. "i wouldn't find it here though. as much as knockturn loves to advertise itself as being quite deadly, i think you'll find better options in other places."

“if i told you i accidently jinxed a broom and now it’s wreaking havoc on london, would you report me to the ministry?” knox asked. although the question itself was concerning, the subject didn’t quite match the witch’s face. instead she wore a thoughtful expression at the other who had taken a seat next to her at the bar. she’d actually come here to get a drink to go, but after her little incident before arriving, her mind was buzzing and far too distracted to worry about whatever business she had been thinking about prior to this. “if yes, then i’m afraid i’m going to have to obliviate this entire conversation. or maybe frame you. whichever you prefer.”

“hmm, good. nobody likes a rat.” knox nodded as she leaned back in her seat with a thoughtful frown. “although, if you did see the jinxed broom, could you mind returning it to me? i have to sweep the shop at some point.”

"    wanna  play  a  drinking  game  with  me?    "    slightly  wide  eyes  and  the  uncharacteristically  bright  smile  softening  usually  -  sullen  features  suggests  it’s  a  game  lavender  has  been  playing  for  a  while  now,  drink  hugged  close  to  chest  like  it  provided  some  comfort.      ⸺      or  perhaps  in  case  someone  tried  to  confiscate  it.  either  were  both  possible  options.  at  least  the  girl  was  having  fun,  something  she  personally  felt  she’d  earned  after  having  to  bribe  her  way  into  somebody’s  plus  one.  turns  out,  that  pesky  fear  of  missing  out  won  every  time.    "    the  rules  are;    you  have  to  take  a  swig  every  time  a  worker  says  but,  um  during  their  talks.  it  happens  a  surprisingly  large  amount.    "

“why not? s’not like this party has much to offer anyway.” knox mumbled, leaning back against a pillar as she took a glass cup from a passing waiter. these galas were always quite boring to knox, even when she was younger and had to attend. none of it had changed much. it’s a wonder she was even invited back in the first place. knox knew she wasn’t much in good standing with some people at the ministry. had to be pure sheer luck by now. “i was dragged into a ridiculously boring conversation where they used but um a lot. perhaps i should take my first couple of swigs.”

"i'm glad to hear it," she replies - snarky as ever, of course, though knox tends to get away with so much more than other people and PROBABLY knows it. "nobody likes an overly boastful shopkeep, bellamy," even her words of warning land without punch, her focus divided between the other & one of the nearest potted plants, a leaf from which she pinches between finger and thumb, "very funny. if it were actual lights i were looking for i'd have spared us both this trouble. i'm afraid foliage is the only option."

“i’d be pretty dull if i wasn’t so boastful. therefore this shop would be positively dull and no one would be coming back just to talk to the charming shopkeeper.” knox shrugged with a lazy smirk. it was always good fun to have these particular chats with pansy parkinson. with her, knox didn’t mind the snark—especially when she could easily bite back. it had always been that way between the two, as far as knox could remember. “that’s a shame, there’s a nice lamp sitting out front of a shop next to mine. could really liven up your place. but you have come to the right place—the best plant place in all of diagon alley. we can start with the more vibrant and lively plants i have here.”

“is that really a threat?” pansy asks, more conversational than the topic perhaps deserves, “i feel as if the rise of google has made that true of most people.” of course, knox knows her stuff better than most people. pansy can usually admit THAT much, even if it is with difficulty, but far be it for her to allow her sometimes friend this particular moment. “i’m not sure. truthfully, i want something... easy. something to brighten up my study without me having to expend much energy.” 

knox smirked, “relax, we won’t have to duel today.” although she’s sure that perhaps her and parkinson might tie, depends on how rusty the other’s duel skills are. even then, knox didn’t feel like dealing with jinxes or curses hitting her face. today she needed her moneymaker in order to stay in business. “google can try but it’s not knox bellamy--brighten up your study? may i suggest a lamp? a candle maybe?”