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Vladimir had grown exceptionally tired of wearing the same thing for days, and was becoming mildly infuriated with what he considered very common, low-quality linens. So, he was very pleased to learn that A had arranged the shopping trip, even though it would mean having to pawn off a few valuables. He'd already selected a couple of rings and a few less-important accent gems from his cape to attempt to turn into a decent amount of cash.

It took him some time to find the place, after a few wrong turns, but on seeing a young man that matched A's description of Mello, he'd found the right place. He adjusted the suspensors beneath his velvet robe and drifted in, giving Mello a polite smile. "You must be Mello, A said you'd meet us here. I am Baron Vladimir Harkonnen."

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A was pleased to see that the Baron and Mello were both already there when he arrived; being early and waiting would just have made him nervous. He nodded in greeting, but he'd heard the Baron introducing himself as he'd walked up and did not want to interrupt.

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I push away from the wall, shoving my hands in my pockets. A has picked an odd one this time. "Yes, I'm Mello. And, A said you wanted to go shopping," I reply. "The floating thing is going to rule out anything beyond the wizarding world, though." And, if he thinks a title's gonna impress me, he's barking up the wrong tree.

"You sure about going with us, A?" I ask.

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"So there's no sort of suspensor technology at all? Rather disappointing- it's useful. It's this wizarding shopping I'm interested in, however, A said that I'd probably prefer the fashion. And I apparently require a wand. And 'galleons'." Such a strange name for a coin. He'd thought that was a type of ancient ship, which perhaps went to show how much history could manage to distort things.

He turned to A with a smile. "And there you are, A- I'd hope you're coming with us."

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"I said I would," A confirmed with a nod. He was honest by nature and liked to keep his word. "If, Mello, if you think I will be in the way I can stay behind. I want it to be a successful trip."

A certainly didn't think he'd have anything productive to add, but the Baron did know him better than he knew Mello, and A knew if it was him, that would put him more at ease.

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"Galleons," I say, pulling out a golden coin from my pocket. It's almost a relief that the goblins are as good at telling counterfeit as humans are. I may actually have to find an 'honest' line of work if they were better. "We can find the rest in Diagon Alley."

I turn to face A. "If you want to come, come. If you don't, don't. It's up to you. If you need to leave before we're done, let me know."

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"You really should come along, A. It would prove more amusing that way." He smiled casually at A, but from his voice it was evident he'd be more comfortable with A along. He'd been very helpful so far, and, he wasn't sure what to think of Mello yet. He seemed brusque and not too well mannered. Common blood, he supposed, so it possibly couldn't be helped.

"I expect we'll be using that magic you mentioned to travel?" He'd been mentally preparing himself for this experience, as A had told him a bit about it. If he actually did step through a fireplace and end up somewhere else, he felt rather sure that he'd have to believe in magic afterward. Which could prove helpful in learning the stuff, so he figured he'd best just get it over with.

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A had become familiar enough with people to tell that the Baron would prefer it if he came. Therefore, he would, but he smiled gratefully at Mello for understanding that he might need to leave early.

"Flooing to Diagon Alley will let out in a place called The Leaky Cauldron," A told him. "It, it is a sort of tavern. From there it is just a little walk to all kinds of shops." He eyed the Baron's clothing. "I think you will be comfortable i wizard's robes." From his prior visits to Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, he had seen that they could be both colorful and luxurious.

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I look at the 'baron' a moment. I walk over to the floo pot without saying anything. "This is Floo powder. It facilitates the travel. Throw it into the fire, state clearly your destination, and step through when the flames turn green." Though, does 'stepping through' apply to him?

"Did you want to stop at the Leaky Cauldron or continue through, A?"

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The Baron examined the fireplace, thinking that the idea of him fitting through a fireplace was simply ludicrous, but, then again, magic would have seemed ludicrous last week too. And it wasn't like he was unfamiliar with strange substances allowing instantaneous travel- he'd just always thought that was exclusively the domain of supposed mutants in tanks.

"So this place is called 'Diagon Alley'? And I can do this even though I've never been there before? Do I need to, hrm, focus somehow on any spacial coordinates?" He didn't know how the Spacing Guild travelled, since no one did but them, but, this sounded at least logcial. "I think that you two should go first." This way, he'd at least see it happen first, and, no one would be around to laugh if he managed to screw it all up.

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"I, there isn't anything I need at the Leaky Cauldron," A said a little bewilderedly. The publike atmosphere wasn't one A found especially welcoming.

"You only need to name your destination and step through," A assured the Baron. "The network will know where you are going. Like this."

He took a handful of powder and flung it, calling out "Diagon Alley!" and stepped through.

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"All you need to do is pronounce it correctly. I'd say don't trip on the other side, but I doubt that applies to your case," I say.

I walk over to the fireplace and turn to face him again. "If A wants to leave, you will not harass him about staying. You will just have to deal with either returning with us or waiting until I get back." I cross my arms over my chest. "I'd ask for objections, but I don't care if you object."

I turn, taking a handful of powder and follow A, stepping to the side and waiting.

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Mello's run of the mouth filled Vladimir simmering rage. Apparently, A's friend was a brat with about as much manners as a Fremen. Less. At least most Fremen knew when to hold their tongues, before they lost them. Naturally, this caused him to not even -think- about this process, bellowing his destination and stepping promptly after Mello. It also enabled him to ignore the immediate shock of -actually- changing surroundings.

The Baron frowned slightly, looking unusually patient. This frown was specifically directed at Mello. Anyone at home would know that this was a very bad sign, often culminating in quite a few punishments being handed out. He let out a sigh of theatrical disappointment, shaking his head slightly.

"Why, A, I am very disappointed to see that your friend here appears to be lacking in basic manners. Just what do you think that he thinks is going on, hrm? He felt the need to be quite unconventionally rude before we left, why, nearly shockingly so." He gave Mello a strange, cold smile, the sort that's cultivated in the social battles of the political arena. "Young man, I understand if you were raised in less than, hrm. . . ideal conditions. However, this is does not present an excuse for rudeness. I am curious as to just what assumptions you are making- you have reason to believe that A would be in a bad situation with us? Just precisely why would you think this? It really is -very- disappointing." His voice remained eerily patient, and he said almost as an aside, "Why, one might think this young man here was aware of a plot against us, with such curious sentiments."

At home, there'd be little question the Baron would have either snapped his fingers and had the brat dealt with, or, might have just pulled out a toy and did it himself. But, he was in fact curious to know just why Mello would behave this way- in the arenas he was used to, this sort of unprovoked behavior usually indicated something important. He certainly looked like the irritating sort of brat who thought he was all that, and tended to be a bit too impatient to live long, but, there could be a little more to it. Although he was well aware of the poison injectors and maula pistol he never kept out of reach, he had no desire to use these in front of A. A seemed a nice young man, who'd possibly be inconveniently upset by it.

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A stepped close to Mello, seeming almost protective.

"Mello is my friend," he explained firmly. "If I, he, if, if I am upset by the crowd or if someone says something that bothers me, he will make sure I get home."

He wasn't quite visibly distressed yet, but there was a slight edge to his voice. He liked the Baron, but if it came to open conflict there would be no question that he would leap to Mello's defense,

"I, sometimes I don't do well in crowds."

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I raise an eyebrow at the overgrown blowhard. "I know A better than you. And, I much prefer the direct approach. I don't see the need for coddling you. You're a big boy, you can handle it." What an ass.

I frown at him. "As for if there's a plot against us outside of the school," I say, smirking. "Only if we go that way." I point to the door that leads to London. "That way," I point at the exit to Diagon Alley, "I safe. I had the misfortune of running into myself here so I cannot travel as freely as I'd like."

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Vladimir was already pleased he'd decided to play patient with Mello- the undisciplined ones were always so unusually informative. So there was some sort of issue with the wizarding world and the Muggle one. Interesting. Although he'd have loved to have simply strangled the brat with a mouth like that, it was bound to run a bit more in a useful direction.

He retained his eerie calm as he fixed Mello with a emotionless stare, the sort of thing one learns how to pull of perfectly when surrounded by Bene Gesserits and Mentats. "Very amusing. You might find that learning a bit about diplomacy would be useful. As you are A's friend, I shall pretend to ignore your disappointing behavior- but I advise that you never consider a profession in politics." He wouldn't last a day. "However- if I find that you are making A upset, I think that I might have to become upset, and I was hoping we'd have a pleasant day."

He turned to A, and gave him a smile that said, "I'm not upset at you, I'm going to attempt to ignore him for now." A was an extremely helpful, pleasant young man, and, he felt protective of him. "My apologies for that. Do not be concerned, no one will be harming you with me around. I've got my tricks. I suppose I'll need a jeweler first- I need to convert some currency."

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A looked at Mello apprehensively. The conflict was somewhat upsetting, and he hoped very much it would blow over.

"I, I've never, never been to a jeweler," he admitted. "Mello, I, do, do you know how to, to find one?"

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"I don't need to practice diplomacy. I wasn't trained to need it and it gets in the way of what I do." I smile, a smile that would make the sane run. "I prefer organized crime."

But, A's getting upset. I glare once more at the Baron. "I know where one is," I say calmly. I switch to Japanese deliberately and tell A, "I won't hurt him. I just don't like him." After a moment, I smirk. "He reminds me of someone."

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The Baron actually chuckled, finding Mello downright amusing. Ah, yet another child who thinks he knows what he's doing. If anyone knew how valuable diplomacy was to organized crime, it was him. His family weren't the sort of nobles who'd simply been born into it. No, they'd actually worked their way into it, and, the vast majority of their business dealings over the years had been heavily laced with questionable proceedings, and strongarm tactics were standard. The Harkonnen were basically the largest mafia in the Imperium, with a state seal of approval, privateer crime lords. This is why when it came to the Emperor's dirty work, they did the jobs.

He inwardly rolled his eyes at Mello's use of another language. "Again with the rudeness- really, if you're to make it in the long run at your line of work, I'd advise a bit more diplomacy. I know more than a thing or two about it, after all." He gave Mello a strange, knowing smile, and turned to A. "I expect it will not take long- I shall merely need to go into the jeweler, barter some things, and leave. I'll need the best one."

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"I don't want there to be trouble," A said to Mello in quiet Japanese. "I, I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to ask." It was clear that there was a fundamental clash here. "Do you want to go back?"

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I answer A first. "I'm fine. You can go back if you want. I can deal with the fat man there." I smile, a smile that only those I give a fuck about get. "I've dealt with worse. He's just like the mafia bosses. Don't worry."

I turn to the Baron. "I'd say you're right, but I know you're wrong. I made it to the top in less than four years from the outside with this charming personality. Don't like it, then find someone else to play guide and gopher for you."

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The Baron smirked. Yes, this was one of those. He'd seen countless brats like this come and go, playing at what they felt were large-scale smuggling operations. But, there was a reason why they were mostly ignored, and just allowed to run. They were a few grains of sand in the desert. "I expect that wouldn't be too difficult. You're not required. There's quite a few individuals here, and I'd expect at least one would be interested in making some money." It probably would be better than being seen in such disgraceful company, after all- A seemed a bright young man, but apparently had questionable taste in friends. He couldn't help but wonder if the sort of treatment Mello was displaying was why A seemed rather shy, and a bit unconfident. "You should know that your friend A is a very capable young man. Do not underestimate him."

The Baron turned to A with a patient smile. "We can always do this another day. Perhaps that other nice young man might like to come along, or, I can hire one of these people here today. You should make up your own mind." He believed there was more to A than met the eye, and that he was in fact capable of this, so, there was no pressure in the statement. He had found himself with an interest in cultivating A's self-confidence.

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As the tension grew increasingly overt, A sidled closer to Mello. He ran his fingers nervously over the seeds in his pocket, ready to intervene with a burst of restraining vines if it should progress further.

"We, we're, we are here," he stammered. "We should, we, we should do what we came for."

Horrible to think he might go through this stress without anything to show for it.

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I glare at the Baron. "I know very well what A is capable. I don't think you do, though. He's earned my respect. And, to clarify matters for you, I was not some little throw away boss. I was in control, not a peon. I know very well what I am talking about." I cross my arms over my chest. "I'd offer my resume, but would it really mean anything to you?"

"If I'm not needed, then," I say, more to A than the idiot, "I have training to conduct. Yukimura's off for the afternoon. If you care to join me, A," I let the offer trail off.

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