Absit Omen RPG

Sam wasn't quite sure what to do. Its not the worst state he's had to deal with, but he hasn't been told to just pay for anything, on the one hand it would be better for him if he got someone to pay for everything, but what if they got angry for doing so, they did say do anything. And an Irish Coffee? He didn't have coffee here, especially any Irish brands, so that didn't seem too possible for Sam to do either.

Ultimately he settled on doing the right thing, it may not look as good on his record for not getting a certain amount of toothbrush sales, but he didn't want to just take advantage of a drunken man. He took the money and started to print for just a ticket, that was the better option.

As he started to print the bus burst into motion again, although Sam by now was getting good with it, there were tell tale signs of when it was going into full speed, the way the metal lurches, he's just happy the beds and benches don't move anymore, Sam made sure they were stuck down when they swapped over. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have loose beds on a three story bus wasn't thinking straight, probably enjoyed Gillyweed more then they should have.

With the speed of magic, the bus lurched and swerved, a somewhat maniacal laugh coming from the driver as they sped on through the streets, how they were able to tell where they were at all, given everything blurring outside was a mystery, however they haven't had an accident for atleast as long as Sam had been working...a week now. Somewhere thumping was heard as someone's unsecured luggage fell. Several apologies of people bumping heads and atleast one person calling for silence as they tried to sleep.

Sam still wasn't sure how or why people slept in the beds, passengers are rarely on for longer then an hour.

Making sure he counted out the change properly, he went over to the drunken man. Offering the ticket and coins in one hand as he stood calmly, okay on the inside he wasn't calm, the guy had that rough edge but handsome look, but it wasn't that bad.

"Here you go sir, your ticket and your change. Where is it you're off to today?" He put on his most professional voice possible, a small smile with him also, proud of himself for how professional he was managing to be, and at having a chance to talk to more people! And his parents said he would amount to nothing.

Sam sighed as he entered his flat, it was still as awful as ever. Being the cheapest he could find it wasn’t ever going to be much honestly, but it was still a place to live. He doubted the landlord had ever visited outside of the showing people in, no one ever went for viewings he supposed. He hated this place, it was terrible, it was damp, likely infested with something. And things had gone missing, but it was his. He didn’t own it, but it was still his own place to live, his own place to be himself, no one was watching. A lie most likely, he had nothing to put credence to his theories but he was fairly certain there were holes watching everywhere, he didn’t doubt he had no privacy. But he could pretend. Pretend that it was his solace after all, his sanctuary for now.

He had some money now! It wasn’t a huge amount, but it was still an amount and helped greatly, far better then the £50 he was given monthly by his mother, ultimately the job was something completely unexpected he would ever do, he had used the Knight Bus several times, namely because he cannot apparate, nor was it something he wanted to do. And while he was decent on a broom, it was hard to not fly a broom, it wasn’t ideal for long distance or for comfort, or transporting. The Knight Bus had helped him so much, especially after he had run away from home, taking all his main possessions with him as he started his journey.

But he never really expected, or though about, being the conductor of the Knight Bus. It also always seemed like it would be a really difficult job, predominantly due to the motion of the bus itself and the lurchedness of it all, with sudden stops, starts, momentum. But surprisingly it was easy for him to catch onto. He was given a couple of days training on how to do his job, given some tips to do so, most helpful was a spell to help himself self orient and right with the bus itself. That had been a lifesaver as it meant he could pour drinks and transport them without someone getting a lethal dose of creamer all over them.

It was a job, and it was making money, it was something he could do. And it helped him, it gave him a chance to talk to people, it gave him a chance to make drinks, and it let him travel. He also overhead gossip, he was never really one for gossip, but it was always interesting to listen to as the bus went about, and so far he thinks he is doing well. He’s only spilt someones hot chocolate once, and was due to a particularly nasty stop that even veteran Knight Bus passengers stumbled upon when it happened. He thinked people liked him, he atleast appeared friendly anyway, which he thinks is better then some previous conductors. Some had mentioned a Stan Shunpike being a conductor and later a Deatheater, that is a bit too far of a career change for Sam to ever want to go to down.

But Sam was home now, he was being paid weekly, which he preferred, especially when he didn’t think he would be able to survive long enough to get a paycheck on a monthly payout, its not like he can’t survive on a budget of about £5 a week, but he really did not think he’d survive a job and that.

He took off the jacket and hat, placing them on-top of his dresser and waving his wand to get them perfectly pressed and folded. Followed by a switching spell to have himself change from the remaining work uniform with a set of comfy jogging trousers and a hoodie he had on his dresser, he had learned not to put anything in the dresser itself. One time he opened it to find his clothing gone and replaced by a snake. Upon slamming shut and reopening again neither were there, since losing the underwear inside he had refused to put anything inside of them again. Instead keeping on the dresser or in his trunk, it helped with if he was to be evicted or quickly moving out for when the time comes eventually. Hopefully he can afford to move out soon.

Sam stretched himself and put down his shopping, he had decided to splash out, now with money he can afford things! Like actual food! It was amazing what an actual budget per week allowed him to buy. He quickly put away the food he had, genuinely surprised that cockroaches did not leave the cabinets or his magical fridge, but then its not as if they had any food to actually eat inside either as he lived off of bread half the time. Most excited of all was that he used a muggle food store and managed to get himself some good quality ice cream, a luxury that he hadn't been able to have for nearly a year now.

But his main happiness was in new clothes, a mixture of things, some being casual clothes to replace those he didn’t bring with him when he left home, himself considering those now lost as he didn’t want to return home, they didn’t want him, even his mother sending him money was more out of curtesy and to keep him away he reckoned. He wasn’t even sure if his stuff would of even remained or if they’d sold them already, it had been a year.

He pulled out a couple of items, he smiled and started to change, impatient to try them on, one of the items he wanted to see the effects of it himself, being a bra with a few...enchantments, typically assumed for a girl with a smaller...size. The woman at the counter gave him a gentle smile as he bought it, he wasn’t sure if its encouraging or somewhat mocking but he made sure to leave quickly. He dressed himself quickly in the full outfit he had purchased,

He finished and stood himself infront of the mirror, wearing[1] a black mid length skirt, with black tights, a white top with a black leather jacket. He stared at himself for awhile, before his knees went weak followed by him starting to cry, his heart pounding in joy as he felt like himself for once.

He spent half an hour in this state, euphoric in his body, even so far as the size gained to his upper half from the enchanted clothing. Everything felt...right, but he knew he couldn’t stay like this forever, as much as he wanted to, he had things he still needed to do. For a start eat, having not had anything to eat for the previous day.

So with a regretful sigh he stood himself up, wiping away at the tears and relieved he hadn’t put on makeup as of yet, less it smears down him. Maybe next time he goes out, for now it was an outfit he will certainly wear again, potentially even in public, with a hope he would look okay doing so, just the idea of people staring frightened him, what if people could tell? They wouldn’t accept? He thought he looked cute in it, he loved the outfit, but would others?

Slowly he cast a switching spell again, placing the clothes into his trunk with other similar clothing, and with a sigh he wiped the remains of moisture from his eyes. Going over to the potentially explosive oven and turning it on, he prepared a pizza and smiled as he put it inside. Prepared with a new book to read while he waited and to spend the evening with, just a shame the flat didn't even have a bath to let him relax, just the somewhat mouldy old bed.

Things seemed to be turning out alright for him, hopefully soon he can get a proper place to live. but things were looking hopeful for him in the future.

1.	Inspired by this picture I found thanks to Nuri's suggestion of Tokyo Street Fashion! Thank you Nuri!

Sam had been working for around nine hours now, a long long day. But he had gone for a longer shift, he needed the money, simple enough really. And they were willing to oblige him, it meant that his next payment would have a nice amount in it. But it did make him somewhat tired. Most of the pubs were closing now or already closed, along with nightclubs closing, although luckily he hasn't had to deal with many drunken people, Wix had tended to be somewhat smarter and not as drunk, he'd had a couple but that had been about it, he was just happy his shift ended at four and he wasn't due to work again until Monday so he had plenty of time to recover from tonight and still have a weekend, even if he wasn't sure what to do.

He heard the ding as a wayward Wix required their services. Going to the front he looked at the location and nodded, he was getting the hang of this job, and he was happy. It was several things for him, a paying job that was paying well, maybe not amazing like strong Ministry work, not an Auror salary, but it was a good paying job, it also did weekly payouts which were almost saving his life. But it also meant meeting interesting people and getting to travel.


With a thunderous crash, a large object sped to a stop infront of the drunken Auror. Standing high with its rugged design, including the three layers of decks and in brilliant deep purple. The Knight Bus had arrived to take the Wix to their destination as was desired.

Sam opened the door and stepped down onto the first step of the bus, dressed in the uniform which he believed he was pulling off quite well, even if not his type of fashion he seemed to be doing it better then a previous conductor. For a start his uniform was kept in a good condition and pristine, showing the violet shirt underneath only slightly, the black tie, then the purple jacket and hat. Matched with the purple trousers of course, they knew how to do subtlety.

He fumbled a little with the ticket machine around his neck before nodding towards the Wix on the side of the road, he retrieved a card he had almost memorized and started to read it out.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded Wix." A change he had made to his. "My name is Sam Forester and I shall be your conductor for this evening." He then flipped it over. "Tickets are Eleven Sickles for anywhere in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Thirteen Sickles if you want a hot chocolate also. And Fifteen Sickles for a ticket, hot chocolate, a hot water bottle and a toothbrush in the colour of your choice." He hoped they liked purple as that was the only colour they were given.

Career Change

Character Name: Sam Forester
Character Biography: https://absitomen.com/index.php?topic=20711.msg188506#msg188506
Previous Job/Position: Unemployed
Position Applying For: Knight Bus Conductor

Why have you chosen to change careers?:
Sam finding this job seemed perfect for him, it brings in money that he needs, along with allowing him to travel about more, albeit from inside the Bus but still travel, meet new people and develop his social skills further. It doesn't hurt that the job doesn't need the highest of results from Hogwarts either, the hours don't hurt him much, just means more money, he's used to staying up so what does it matter? Most importantly it gets him a patch job, allowing him to get some money as he decides what he really wants to do in the future.

Elaborate on your expertise in this new field:
Although not the best at social skills, Sam is nonetheless friendly and non threatening, wanting to do his best for the job, in addition he knows locations in the UK and has managed to keep his footing in some less then stable settings.

Describe your new job and how you go about doing it:
As a conductor of the Knight Bus, Sam would be in charge of greeting people on the bus, along with handling money to get the tickets for customers, serving them refreshments along with showing them to their beds. All of which he is capable of doing so long as he does not spill the drinks, but he can always use spells to keep himself more stable on the bus.

He would also be responsible for giving locations to the driver to head to, either to drop off passengers or to alert them of locations to pick up new passengers.

Sam nodded softly, right he had been holding her back for too long as of now, she had a job to do, he was still trying to find one, it made sense. She should return to her work, it was important to work! He should get back to his random wanderings of Diagon also, maybe head home now before the marker on his hand started to rub off or got jumbled by his hand, it wasn't the best way to record information really.

"Yeah, better then the schoolbook." He thinks its a thing, he can't remember really, it wasn't long ago but its likely something he forgot about, he sort of had arguments with his parents afterwards and ran around the world on a bare budget so that sort of took over for that.

"Its fine, I'll probably head home now and try to sort some stuff out, maybe stop the leak of acid in the ceiling its sort of annoying..." He looked down and then gave a small nod. "I hope that rest of the day is okay for you, and thank you for the music and all." He said with a nervous, but genuine smile.

Before he took a few steps back and gently headed out of the store, making sure to not draw too much attention to himself and slinking into the streets, happy he now has someone to talk to, and some sort of activity he may be able to do!

Her phone number? A girls number? A girl was writing their number on his hand? He never thought something like this would of happened in his life, his parents wouldn't believe it regardless. It made it very awkward as now he couldn't use his hand, what if he sweats or has to wash them? The writing would go! Or smudge! He wouldn't be able to call or remember it!

Wait did he have a phone? He thinks he does, signal is sketchy but he thinks it works, especially with magic messing up electronics, his one was holding up so far, he tended to just get some dirt cheap phones, they all burn out after awhile so why spend money on them? His simcard seemed to be holding up atleast.

"uh, thanks." He gave a soft smile, he wasn't quite sure how to respond to it. "I will make sure to text. Starlight Theatre sounds fun, better then spending the night re-reading school books." Atleast he's got the Patronus sorted.

"Oh..uh most bars I have been to have been in other countries so it was a little awkward..." He replied sheepishly at her slight confusion over it.

Now she was demanding his hand and held a sharpie, usually these are tricks, he knew someone in Hogwarts who took divination and said they could read his fortune with his palm, only to then spit into his hand. Was she going to draw something weird on his hand?

He handed it over to her, laying his palm flat. Hoping he wouldn't flinch from the sharpie tickling the palm, that has also happened to him and got one person very upset with him.

"Uh, what are you going to draw?"

Was Sam now a Grasshopper? He didn’t...quite get the term, had there been a spell in the music that now turned him into a grasshopper? It didn’t make much sense to him, but she didn’t seem to be insulting with it...was she quoting a song? That seemed the most likely for it, maybe My Chemical Romance called their fans grasshoppers? Or its just a music phrase, she was teaching him and so she called him a grasshopper as it was something below them but they can jump and aspire high….he was overthinking it slightly.

Live Music was a question, he had...heard it while he was alive, and there had been playing in the streets he’d heard playing before, so he had in some way listened to music live before, he was on the underground in Berlin where people came in and played music in your face and asking for money, atleast he thought they were asking for money, it seemed like the most likely thing they would ask in that situation. Unless they were really into promoting their album to him.

“Uuh, I have heard people playing in bars before if that is what you mean? Atleast one person playing in a cafe but mostly bars if I went into them at night, but not often and its very loud and sort of weird being by yourself in them.” That was more likely what she had meant, they sometimes sounded alright but he was very rarely in a position he had been there while they played, it was more money then he could afford and it was always a place that felt awkward.

“Uh...its also..the money and fact that I couldn’t understand the language for them also...I guess.” He thought to add on, usually it was very cramped, very noisy, playing noisy songs, in expensive places, in languages he couldn’t make out, that was a valid reason right? He also just didn’t go to many...

"I-its not...samuel..." He tried to protest as she left him alone with....a stack of albums, more then he could afford, so he would have to be very careful not to damage any, which he believed he could manage, its just put them on the thingy and then place the thingy on the other thingy and press the button thingy and then the thingy played right? That seemed about right, and by some miracle he managed to place the thingy correctly! Now to go over the music...he wasn't sure if he could manage to listen to absolutely every album, he felt guilty taking a booth with a massive pile he couldn't pay for, but he had an excuse. The girl at the counter was forcing him to.

After awhile and being as delicate as possible as he could with the records, he got up and did his best to return them to their proper spots, he had given them a fair play, listening to a couple each so he wasn't in there for the entire day or looked weirder then it must of been, he could of tried sneaking out the place after the relentless music assault but she was being really nice to him and could help him alot, well...Friends are help anyway. If he gets to being friends with her somepoint, so far it was kindness and that was perfectly good for him.

He returned to the counter and rested his upper half somewhat on the counter to relax. "That was...alot of music." He said in a soft sigh. "i didn't listen to the entire thing for each one, but I listened to a few each!" He did his best to make it sound positive, just so it doesn't seem like he did it out of annoyance or anything, but purely just so he wasn't bombarded for ages, and if he didn't like alot of the music, should he continue listening to find the one he does out of the album? It didn't seem like a great idea, but if she recommended to go back he may listen for it.

"They were nice, well, there were a couple I wasn't too fond of. None sounded like bad, but just didn't like all of them." He said in a positive tone! "Um...My Chemical Romance was...loud...Gogol was very weird...not bad but just weird, M I A? Mia? Sounded odd to me also, BTS was very energetic and...pus-..." His cheeks lightly flushed "riot. Riot was very very noisy." The rest he did like! But wouldn't be able to afford, maybe ever, although it doesn't help he doesn't have a way to listen at home.

Had he said something wrong? Nemo seemed very happy with what he said, he did say something wrong, but it was something extremely right for her. She now got to show off her musical prowess and teach him music, would he now become her pet project as she takes him under to create a new musical identity for him? It seemed like that was what she was trying to do.

Then they were inside a phone booth, they fit together, but a phone booth is small by itself! Let alone with two squeezed inside! He felt fairly awkward with being this close to her, it was after all not what he was expecting today, he didn't think he'd be shoved inside a phone booth with someone today. Especially with several records that...how are they so big? He understood about not having muggle but surely...magic?

He nodded in agreement, nothing was sacred, so he could feel free to voice his opinion...but does that mean if he agrees to liking it that she may feel he isn't being honest? He had a chance to listen first so he had that on his side incase he didn't like it.

Not like that mattered though, it felt like along time and also a short time, short in that, the song seemed short, are all songs short? Aren't they meant to go on for awhile? And long in that it felt awkward standing there so close to someone else as they listened. But he did like it!

"Its good! Its a nice relaxing song, like...calming? And gentle." He struggled a bit with finding the words he wanted, but it was nice! It was something he could imagine playing as he just settled down, although it was hard to imagine having the money to buy a record player.

My Chemical Romance? He knew what chemicals were, he...heard of romance before. He had no clue who My Chemical Romance was though, well obviously they were a band, but he had never heard of them in the slightest....but he didn't know many bands at all, when he did listen to alot was in school, but he wasn't in muggle school for that long really, he obviously heard some in Hogwarts but always in the background and never learning any.

He knew a couple of people ultimately, but that was more cause his dad made sure he did learn them.

"I think only songs I know....a coal mining song, that one about West Virginia, Fortunate Son and I've heard of both Elvis and the Beetles but never listened to them." He said in an attempt to explain his somewhat befuddled look. "Never learned any in school, and my Dad didn't want stuff on he didn't like. So only the same songs he liked over and over." He put down his fingers he only just noticed he was counting the number he knew on. It was an incorrect count anyway, he'd heard more but those are only ones that he can ever remember, its hard to remember every background noise you've heard.

"I think something about Uranium also but he considered that borderline hippy..." He muttered softly.

Sam gave a small smile, atleast she was honest, now at the very least. But it was part of the job, you wanted sales so of course she would say that. He understood, it was normal for shopkeepers to promote stuff even they looked bad, he saw one shoe shop employee sell a pair of bright pink cowboy boots to someone, barely anyone looked good in cowboy boots unless it was the full outfit, and even less bright pink ones when they were wearing mostly brown clothing.

"How bad is it?" He asked curiously, not having heard of the band before, or maybe he had before but years ago and he'd forgotten. "Guessing it was just lackluster or is it actually painful to listen to?" He wasn't really sure how it was possible to make bad music, he guessed if it was painful to hear. As surely it would still be good to listen to? Just not as good as another song, but then wouldn't that imply its not a bad song just others are better?

He took a look at the Monty Pythons behind the counter, they freaked him out a little, same as Chocolate Frogs, except this seemed more grotesque to him, living snakes that acted and looked just like snakes, yet it was for eating and bled whatever was inside. Atleast Chocolate Frogs didn't bleed but were still acting like living things. He hasn't been able to look at a Curly Wurly the same way since.

"What type of music are you typically into? If its not great." He went to the side of the counter so he cannot get in the way of people who want to do their shopping and leaned onto it, more comfortable then just standing there awkwardly.

She played everything? That was...he could play hot cross buns on a piece of plastic, the fact she knew how to play everything, it was both saddening that she was younger, or looked younger? He didn't know her age, and nor would he ask, it was rude to ask that! But she seemed younger, and she could play everything, while he could barely remember the one thing he learned in muggle school. Maybe he should learn an instrument, piano seemed interesting, could get work at places on a piano, it sounded classy. He likely couldn't get one into his apartment though, the floorboards would cave and crash to the ground floor if anything heavier then a TV was placed inside.

His hair though! She asked about his hair! It was not something he often gets asked, probably because its not that interesting, but it was nice to be asked. Even if he didn't do a whole lot to it really. He had heard of magical hair dye that would change with your mood, but he wasn't sure if it was like those mood ring things where its just stuff inside that changes on temperature or if it really did, it was magical so it could be, it would just be expensive and he didn't know how long it would last for the money.

"I don't do much to it, I did dye it with normal hair dye I got at a Boots. But it was brighter then I wanted, so I used Colovaria to make it darker, so atleast if it wears off then its still dyed, just lighter." He awkwardly felt the hair around his right ear, almost as if he was trying to tell the colour of it by touch. He had cast the charm that morning but he could never remember when it would wear out, if it even wore out at the time it was meant to. "I do need to get better dye for it sometime though, so I don't have to rely on charms to keep it how I want."

"Your hair is also...really nice." The pause probably made it sound false, but he did like the messiness of the hair, and the amount, it was alot more hair then he had. And it was longer, both things he sort of wanted but he didn't want to rely on spells to do, most likely he would mess it up and leave himself with a constantly regrowing handlebar mustache.

Oh more questions straight in! He should of guessed there would be questions, they were introducing eachother still but just...how casual it was and asking about people, he started figuring they had never met at Hogwarts, he didn't know many at Hogwarts for a start and her accent was not something he would forget, some sort of American, he thinks, it could be something completely different also.

"I am 19...and no I don't believe so? I don't...talk to people often, since arriving in London its been you...and a woman who I knocked into..." He thought it best to not mention the scary vampires right now, or that he didn't want to ever go to Camden Town again incase they saw him and attacked him, he knew it was unlikely they would attack him, but he didn't want to take the chance or get really awkward by seeing them.

"Playing music is really cool by the way...what instrument do you use?"

They were getting angry, and now, now. They were scary, he had insulted them and now they were hostile. People who are hostile are scary, much much scarier then those who aren't hostile. The fact he doesn't know what Vampires can do, well he had some clue, but it was so many years ago now, made it more dangerous. A Wix you can defend against, not that he was particularly skilled with fighting but atleast he could somewhat predict what he needed to counter with. He wasn't sure on how aggressive they would be, how old they are, or what they may be capable of.

And he didn't want to fight, so there was that.

His hand fumbled inside his pocket and quickly he put a couple of sickles on the counter of the bar. "I-i'm really sorry..." He said softly, he didn't have a way to apologize properly, and they didn't want him around at all, he figured at the very least it may of been an apology for wasting their time.

He started to hurry out of the bar quickly, not wanting to anger them further or waste more of their time, although the man said to go to the Stable Markets...he didn't think he would do that, he didn't feel like he could come back to this area of the city again...maybe it would be better that way.

Once out of the door he would head quickly back the way he came, he wanted to go home...