It was over a day since the last full moon. It had been a rough one for certain. This time without anyone there to assist him when he woke from the nights sleep he hadn't done well at all. There were branches everywhere including some covered with his own blood. After fetching the fresh pair of slacks and shirt he had hidden in the usual place, Simon made sure to eat something he also packed gaining enough strength to apparate to his ramshackle flat in Knockturn Alley.

Sleeping off the day after was ritual now. It would be different when he had a chance to consume the wolfsbane he would be allowed once working for the ministry again. That wily Covi had made sure of putting his fears at rest, erasing his record was a nice touch. There would surely be questions asked, but it was not anything he couldn't handle. Having sent out the rest of the paper work she required, Simon was comfortable in the belief that sooner rather than later he would be gainfully employed and would make his parents miserable with his sudden reappearance.

Looking to calm the shivers and the shakes, Simon woke up on May twenty-first seeking the calm of a potion. Pulling on a pair of old faded slacks, a long black coat, a black hat, his usual leather gloves and grabbing up what little money he had lying about, Simon made his way out of the flat. Walking through the shaded streets of Knockturn Alley he kept his steps slow and controlled so not to falter and make himself and easy target for would be sneaks and robbers.

Turning onto Diagon Alley it was like night and day. People seemed to walk about freely like they knew nothing of the world in the other Alley. It never surprised him when people acted ignorant to the plight of others. It was almost as if they thought that it was their own fault they ended up in the state they were. Simon begged to differ, if his circumstances were different he would surely never dwell in the sty he did. However you have to look at what you have and what you don't. Never did he have his parent's approval or family support, it was like a beacon leading him down the narrow path he walked on.

Finding the Apothecary with little trouble, all he did was follow the stench of rotten eggs and old dirt floor scent. It was a shop he found he needed to pinch his nose when entering for fear his eyes might water. Heightened senses were one thing, even those with a dull set would be able to make out the store from a regular run of the mill book shop. Making his way from the cobbles to the front door he pushed it open, a bell rang signaling to the owner that a customer had entered. Simon tipped his hat in the direction of the owner who came from a back store room. "Ello", he said quietly as his eyes glanced over the many bottles and potions spanning the cramped shelves. The sound of footsteps were heard and a bell rang, his head moved towards the side giving him full view of the door.

The twenty-first of May had finally reared it’s head and Arius Tristisa arose expecting everything to go smoothly. Precisely on this day twenty-seven years ago and... Just ten minutes prior he had graced the world with his magnificent presence. Yes, yes, they had much to thank him for. What would the world be without the puffed up peacock himself making an appearance? Awaking from his beauty sleep he stretched lazily and arose from the blue silk that ensconced him. Today would be a perfect day, everything would go according to plan as far as he knew. Nothing ever dared go wrong on his birthday.

He pulled a robe off a hook by his bed and tied it loosely about his waist moving towards the bathroom where he was to begin the daily grooming session. It was then, of course, that fate decided to prove him wrong. Things can go wrong on your birthday, Mister Tristisa. A long, loud, girlish scream escaped his lips as though his face had suddenly become transfigured into that of a donkey. Though even that would be better than this. He moved his face close to the mirror and just stared, stared at the offending object which had caused this. On his nose there was... A spot.

The day of his birthday and he had an offending spot on his nose! He reached for his wand, pointing it at the spot and trying a few spells, concealment, disappearing, cover up, nothing was working much to his displeasure. Perhaps he could dash off a quick owl to Dazmond, but would the owl find her soon enough? That was his principal worry, he needed something to treat this and he needed it now. Not to mention the fact that finding Dazmond was sometimes as hard as finding the right shade of concealer to match his tan.

With swift movements he exited the bathroom, his wand moving quickly to cover mirrors as he went along. There was absolutely no way he was going to stare at that offending spot any longer. With a quick disappearance into his closet he was out again, dressed impeccably but wearing a conspicuously long overcoat, the collar pulled up and a large brimmed hat pulled low on his brow. His sunglasses were put firmly in place and with a faint pop he disappeared, only to appear again in the back room of the Leaky Cauldron. Fumbling with his wand he tapped the bricks in rapid succession and moved into the Alley, hoping to Merlin that no one would recognize him in this embarrassing state.

He moved quickly down the alley, swerving around pedestrians and heading directly for his destination, they had to have something to help him. Otherwise, all plans would be cancelled, the party would be off and Arius would look the fool! No, no, no, that would not work at all. He reached his destination and pushed the door open, slipping in and moving past a man that was already there. “Excuse me.” He moved towards the owner, pulling the top of his coat closer to his face.

“I need something for this.” He spoke in hushed tones and pointed to the offending spot. “It needs to be gone by this evening. Latest it can still be there is six o’clock. I cannot appear at my own party with such a disgusting thing on my face!” He could only hope the shopkeep would realize how truly embarrassing and horrific this was and take him seriously. Though bets were truly on the man laughing behind his hands before any attempt at helping him were made.

The scent of the stranger made him wince. It was not who he had hoped to see, or worse yet be around when he looked like he had been rolling in the mud and the muck. Leaves still littered much of his articles of clothing from the previous evening, it might take sometime to get himself completely sorted out again. Simon couldn't be certain how it would go without Ky anymore to make sure he was kept safe.

It was his own bloody fault too. The night before she vanished they had been drinking. A little too heavy for either of them. Then the underlying sexual tension that had been felt between the pair was made quite apparent in a display of passion and excitement. Perhaps it was too much excitement for Kyrene because she dropped him like a stone. The first friend he truly made in his life, left him there holding nothing more then a crinkled goodbye note.

Simon had been distraught, but his rage had been much worse. The flat they had shared now bared the holes and scars of a man on a mission to get out his anger. A talent he picked up from his father of not being able to control his emotions. They had become even harder to control after the attack. Simon had become a monster both on the inside and out. It was plain to see. Since she left he had pulled himself together, but the flat was slowly being repaired when he found time to care. Mostly he stayed out of it.

Now he had more to focus on. In fact his life had been moving in a more stable direction. It took longer than he had anticipated but the yards of paperwork that he had been giving had been completed and properly mind you. Having sent the last of the required to his future boss, Simon felt for the first time on firm ground. In fact he looked forward to starting his new life, perhaps even getting a decent flat. One he wouldn't have to think about the scent of Kyrene which still clung to the walls of their former joint dwelling. That would be nice.

What made this day a little brighter however was hearing the squeals of terror in the voice of the over confidant strutting peacock before him. What was he whining about? A spot on the tip of his nose? There in full view of whoever came into the shop he stood covered in scratches and cuts, and this fool was upset about a mere spot. It was comical at best. Finding what he was seeking off the shelf, he grabbed two glass bottles filled with a red and a golden liquid. Walking it over to the counter he placed it down on the solid surface with his leather gloves ever present. Simon turned his head with a smirk, "I don't see why you don't just leave the blemish it really suits you," his voice was cold. An obvious taunt, but Simon was famous for it. Even when the chips were down he was not against knocking down another for fun, especially when someone had build themselves up like this tart did. Pulling out two sickles he dropped them onto the counter to pay for his potions.

 

In his rush to get to the front counter, Arius had barely noticed who the man that was already there was. He was still waiting impatiently while the shopkeep stared, mouth a tad agog, at the spot that had currently taken roost on the tip of his nose. He tapped his fingers on the counter impatiently and a slight "hem hem" soon had the shopkeep darting off to find what Arius had requested. He sighed heavily and leaned against the counter.

The sound of something being placed on the counter caused him to turn his head and he honestly wished he had chosen not to do so. This had placed his spot right in the direct line of vision of one Simon Reid, who was committing his usual fashion faux pas and wearing those dingy leather gloves he owned with everything. Did he not know that gloves were not always appropriate attire? Honestly, some people seemed to have no sense of proper fashion and accessorizing.

"Reid, people look at me and think of perfection. It may be unattainable for some," his eyes swept over Simon and a grimace formed on his lips. "To others, however, it comes naturally. This blemish suits me about as much as a supermodel on your arm suits you. Last time I checked, however, supermodels were my territory." The man before him looked bedgraggled and, well, poor. Arius wondered why he would even bother to go out in public looking like that? Did he have no self-respect whatsoever?

Arius looked at the two bottles picked by Simon and wondered what on earth they might be. He would not be bothered enough to snoop around and learn what exactly the viscous golden-red liquid was. After all, it did not concern him so he was completely uninterested. Most things that were not about him failed to hold his attention for large spans of time. Simon Reid was simpy not something that interested him enough that he would go looking to find out what he was up to.

"Then again, I never let myself look so... bedraggled. Lose a fight with a pair of hair clippers? That would explain the nature of that hair on the top of your head." The look was, well, not quite up to par, though in Arius' opinion, nothing about Simon ever really was.

This bloke was wound so ruddy tight, it was almost comical. While he slinked across the store obviously not behaving much like himself, Simon enjoyed watching the panic stricken expression on the now imperfect face of Arius Tristisa. Why models seemed to think they were better than the rest of wizarding population he couldn't have guessed, but there was living proof of vanity in it's purest form. Watching him beg for a cure to the red splotchy growth gave him some sort of internal edge, like he had proof the bloke was human.

Those dingy leather gloves were the only thing keeping him from a searing pain worse than most cuts and scrapes. Silver burns were something he avoided like the black plague. Not that he gave two sickles about being fashion forward anyway, he had far more important things going on in his head. For one, where his next meal would come from and if he could get the wallet out of someone's pocket without them noticing.

Chuckling he shook his head, "Perfection, a surface belief only. If they look below your makeup covered exterior they might see just how shallow you really are. Unattainable for some? Seems like unneeded upkeep for something that I have to tell you really only looks so-so." Simon cut back at him. A deep growl like laugh came from his stomach through his mouth, "Are you kidding me? Do you honestly think I would want some wispy flake without two brain cells to rub together? No thank you, I would much rather a woman of substance... you can keep those high maintenance nightmares. Besides they can share your lipgloss when their's run out, it is perfect match." Lifestyles of the shallow and brainless was not what he wanted.

"If your wit was half as scaring as that blotch slowly creeping over the tip of your nose you might actually have something there," Simon chuckled snidely. He might have been weakened by the full moon the other night, but he wouldn't let some gloss covered know it all get the best of him. "Oh you are so funny, I am quite glad I get a chance to have such a stirring conversation with you about my looks. I wonder is that all you have to attack me with? Barbs about my attire, oh it hurts so bad," he pretended to be wounded. Holding himself up on the counter though so he wouldn't collapse. His money was accepted by the cashier when they came back around with something for that face of Arius's. Simon took his two bottles and slipped them into his robes. "Well precious I would claim that I would love to stay and chat, but that would be a lie. Side-note, It rained last night, try not to drown in a puddle looking at yourself..." he was suddenly much more chipper even as he hobbled towards the exit.