Poisonous Hellos {open}

Cloth gloved hands carefully spread out a thin layer of the Rosary Peas that he'd just gotten in stock. He would have to keep an eye on any children that decided to come into his shop. The bright red color would likely attract them like magpies.

Normally if his regular customers or even shady characters came in with their children, they made sure the tykes kept their grubby hands to themselves. The more annoying children and adults had Terrance wanting to commit murder. There had actually been a few to drive him sparse. One such person had Terrance to the point he purposefuly riled the smarmy git who questioned if some of his plants were as dangerous as labeled. Terrance had gotten the fool to eat a jar of appleseeds. Suffice to say, that person no longer questioned him.

Taking the gloves off and putting on a fresh pair he was about to set out the Dolls Eye when the door to his shop opened. Giving the person a once over he went back to what he was doing. Confident that if in need of something would speak up.

Joseph walked into Mr. Mulpepper's as he was leaving Liza's shop after dropping off some cash he had began to give her as child support. He needed some herbs only found within this store. Pulling the rim of his cowboy hat far down to cover his eyes he was glad he was wearing jeans, a button up shirt, and a jean jacket over his military uniform. That could be bad. Interestingly enough he wasn't surprised by most of the...selection...within the store. He looked over items and stopped catching the scent of herbs he knew only were found in the spiritlands. "Austin? Well...at least you are being productive." he muttered to himself. One less thing to worry about with Austin. Watching the man who once overed him.

He then found the an item that he had a hard time keeping a huge stock of whenever able to shock in Diagon Alley...tea tree oils. Taking one of the baskets for the customers he filled it with about twenty bottles of this. He used it with his men to help them with injuries. Though it was hard to get enough of this in Diagon Alley as it was a popular item. He decided to also pick up about five lavender oil bottles due to he could make more but while he was here he might as well get some. Then grabbed about fifteen bottles of rosemary oils. "Let's see...what else do I need that is harder to find here?" He mused to himself.

Looking around spotted some of the expensive bottles of floral oils. A smirk crossed his lips. "This herbalogist has great contacts and skill obtaining these floral oils...such a reasonable price for these as well. It is so hard to find Jasmine and rose oils. Especially of this quality and to obtain Jasmine oils in Turkish bottles is impressive." He said loud enough the owner would hear the compliments. No wonder Austin frequents here. Ghost Pepper hit his nose but he ignored it.

Checking the money he had he knew he could get twenty of both the rose oiland jasmine oils. That would be all he could get with the money on him. He'd be sure to come back discretely other times. Ten bottles were for him and ten for Liza. Taking his basket of oils he placed the wares on the counter. Putting the shopping basket to the side. Pulling out his money satchel, he waited to be rung up.

Keeping the man in his peripheral, Terrance continued about his task before walking casually and sitting behind his counter. He liked to have something between him and unknowns. His paranoia might have increased, but so did his sense of self-preservation. And it was telling him that just because this man seemed unassuming, it belied what power the man had. So his hazel eyes followed the man as he went about his shelves and placing oils into a basket. Seeing that the purchases were only oils didn't cause him to bat an eyelash. Oils were used for many things. While not particularly liking lavender, he knew that there was a witch that bought a supply regularly because it helped with her temperament. Something about aromatherapy that she was wanting to try on her young ones.

Ignoring the comments as if he hadn't heard them, Terrance kept his face blank as he quickly counted and mentally tallied the total. After telling the man the price, he began to take the bottles out and wrap them in brown paper. Knowing that magic reacted negatively to some potions, herbs, and spells cast on some of the containers, he rarely used magic to wrap the items. Besides, as his hands did the busy work it gave him time to take in his customers. Once upon a time, he might have faked a smile and jovial tone as he conversed with his customers. At the moment he was too on edge, there was just something about this man that caused him pause.

That smirk had been awfully familiar. Racking his memory, he tried to recall if Scrappy ever mentioned anyone and gave it up for lost. Wrapping the last bottle and placing it in the wooden box with the others, he asked, "Wouldn't happen to know a scrappy teenager that goes by the name of Austin, would you?"

Joseph waited as the man tallied up the total and handed over the bag of galleons and other coins that came to a little more than that. He had noticed that Terrance had studied him but pretended otherwise. Man was smart to be unsure of him but he wasn't changing his demeanor any. Though when the man finally spoke he smiled a bit. Taking up the box. "Yes I do. I'm glad he found someplace of stability. Perhaps it will keep him out of trouble a bit more." He said with a soft chuckle. "Austin is my younger brother. I'd rather he didn't know I came here if you don't mind. I already made sure he won't catch my scent or presence." He said simply.

Terrance made no comment preferring to keep silent on the matter of the 'stability' part. He was far from stable. As far as trouble went, it was the puppy's middle name. If Scrappy wasn't in some mess Terrance was sure the puppy wouldn't know what to do with himself. Obviously this man had no idea what he was talking about. At the next revelation it caused him to pause.

"It's not my business to tell anyone who comes and goes in my shop." It was said in a slightly offended way. If he was anyone else, Terrance would have given an incredulous look at the assumption he was a gossip. He was more a fan of don't say anything unless asked. If Scrappy asked him straight out, he was not going to lie.

Arching a brow, he quelled the unasked question of 'how'. Instead he tried to keep the mood light and replied as he would if speaking with the puppy. Which might not go over with the man, and interest Terrance in how he would reply. "Is that what the oils are for? Didn't think there was a bottle marked essence du garbage amongst them."

Joseph lifted a dangerous gaze to Terrance. "It would be in your best interest if you forgot I was even here period. Then you can't lie even if directly asked by others. It would bring you a lot of trouble not just on the good guys side but the deatheaters if you don't." He said warningly. Shifting the box. "Course it isn't my issue but this old wolf can't help but give advise even to the enemy." he said with a chuckle.

He turned a bit. "The lavender is for the headaches and stress Austin gives me. One of these days he is going to end up locked in Askaban. For what good it would do. I give him a day kept imprisoned if he is bored. Three to four hours if not." He snickered a bit. "Austin has told you that he used Spiritland Magic right? Well...I might not look tan like him but I have the heritage magic also. Any other questions Terrance? No odor covering scents needed. Besides that would destroy your merchandise...such an odor as de garbage." He asked with an easy going patient smile. A smirk filtering over his lips a the end.

Facial expression and body language not changing Terrance did not like being threatened. And that was exactly what his 'friendly advice' sounded like. "And who says I'm the enemy? I think you've been in the military too long if you're seeing enemies is shop owners."

Terrance knew about Scrappy induced headaches. He had migraines caused the by the puppy. Between him and Xena, he'd developed a twitch for a while. However when the other commented about his puppy in Azkaban, Terrance felt his whole persona shift. Cold and unyeilding he eyed the man. He did not like this man at all. Eyes flashing, he gave a malicious smirk of his own. "Really? I suppose you're the reason the puppy used to wear a collar."

Joseph lifted his gaze still holding onto his hat. "The queen has you on her watch list for suspicious activities. I don't see enemies in shop owners only those the queen and her navy has special interest in. However, I haven't seen anything suspicious here today. Nor am I anything but a customer. I don't see or know anything from this store...aside from the shopkeeper has a stick up his ass and a spine to go with those sharp fangs of his." He said simply. His gaze turned dark. "No...that would be one of the Death Eaters...our parents. I would never put Austin in a collar...Dagger Dance deserved better. You want someone to speak to about him and a collar? Talk to your buddy Avion...or the Dark Lord Augustus Rookwood Jr." He said in a cold and dark growl.

"There is a few people I would break the laws myself to remove from staining this world...Avion...is one of them." He said coldly. A smirk on his face. "You got balls partner....let's try not to go wild west here...I'm just a paying customer. I didn't expect to find one of the most watched people here in just a shopkeeper." He said. Pulling out some grapes and tossed a bag of them to Terrance. "These are Austin's favorite...they are from our homelands. He'll enjoy getting them but the likelihood I'll find my troublemaking brother is slim to none. Pleases see he gets them...he'll be really happy." He picked up the box.

"Anything else you want to accuse me  of?" He tossed a few more galleons down. "One more thing....." He turned a dangerous gaze to Terrance. "The next time you accuse me of being why Austin's suffered...I will show you the native warrior not the military man. I might be military but every wolf has its darker side."

The muggle queen? What was Terrance on her watch list? Thinking about it and the bodies that had piled up that the magical community had to try and hush up during his and Xena's extended leave of absence...He supposed that maybe, just maybe he could be on a muggle's 'special interest' list. That could be a very very bad thing. For people like Terrance who liked being invisible it was very dangerous. He almost gave a smirk and allowed a tiny bit of humor to show about the stick comment. He could have given a crass uncouth reply about he was the one that shoved things places.

At the mention of Death Eaters, his hazel eyes shuttered. Showed what this cowboy knew. Terrance didn't have buddies. He took note of the name planning on seeing whom this person was and perhaps following them. Terrance had only returned a short while ago so was unaware of most of the new players on the board. It was something that he was slowly learning and mentally adding and figuring out.

"Noted," Terrance stated with a burgeoning respect albeit grudgingly, towards this unusual person. He actually approved that someone else would go to war for the puppy's sake. "Just know that I would do the same and that you might want to learn what an actual accusation is when it comes from me rather then a passing comment to gauge you."

Taking the bag, Terrance set them aside to place in the area that the puppy raided whenever he did come over. Something about making sure that Terrance actually ate rather then pretending to. He was curious about why the muggles were so interested in him, but didn't voice it...for now. "You should drop by on the weekends. It's when I get my fresh herbs and restock the liquids."