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Another boring day. Noah had just opened shop, still bleary eyed from waking up in a rather unfamiliar home with a rook and deer cuddled up to him. Also, waking up alone. He had spent the night at the smithy's residence, having come to drop off a book he had gotten for his new friend, and the hours had passed far too quickly with talking. Before she could even get up, he had tiptoed out, barely making it on time for his business.

The lack of tea this very morning was making him feel more mummified than anything, and luckily only one customer had wandered in, along with a rather large rabbit. Ah well, he was too drained of life to care at the moment, not that he usually would. However, even in his drowsy state, he knew how to recognize a familiar when he saw one. The eyes. It was all in the eyes. Ah, so another hedgewitch had come. Perhaps he could actually help this time.

In a rare moment, he stepped out from behind his counter, making his way over to Aponi, barely managing not to stumble over his own feet. He cleared his throat, making sure he didn't surprise her. "Is there anything I can...Help you find, miss?" He asked, voice the slightest bit fogged from exhaustion.

However, not too far from said bookshop, a kettle was boiling furiously over the forge. He had left. Left without a word! And for this, she felt rather stupid. The door shutting, while he had been careful to do it quietly, was what had awoken her. Rosalie was a light sleeper for the most part, and was not too pleased he left without a goodbye, even after she had kept him all night. Noah, so that was his name, right? Lest her memory fail her, she found herself grumbling under her breath about leaving without a word. He was going to hear about this, she swore up and down. Still nestled by the chair were Aelius and Shuu, both still trying to get as much sleep as possible despite the clanging around that their lady was doing in her foul mood.

"Aelius, getcher butt off the ground. We're going to have a word with him." She called, already pouring the scalding water into a cup more suited for transportation. By the time they'd arrive it would have brewed, and it certainly would wake him up more. Well...She supposed he hadn't slept well in a chair anyway.

"Ah, for charms, right?" He murmured, starting to look over his stock. "I know I picked up one not too long ago. Hasn't sold. Keep track of everything in my head and all." He nodded, finally pulling one out from far above his head. "Here's the one on herbs..."

He frowned at her mention of his tired eyes. "Ah, just last night. Spent the night at one of my....friend's houses." Well he guessed they were friends now. First real friend he'd ever had, really. "Sleeping in a chair is usually not my first choice, no."

"Oh now you've done it! First tryin' to tell me that I'm not gonna pay full price, and next running off before I've even put the kettle on!" The fiery redhead burst in, menacing the owner with a steaming cup of liquid. "Here drink up, you look absolutely horrible, like you've come back from the dead." Giving a heavy sigh, Noah took it, and nursed it silently, obviously used to the woman enough not to care.

"A customer this early? And I thought I was the only one." Rosalie eyed Aponi, and then Maul. "Oooh...I see. A Hedgewitch, in a Hedgewitch owned bookstore." There was a definite curious grin on her face, especially as she bent down to look at Maul closer. "Is he friendly? I usually only run in to rooks..."

Aelius peered in the shop through the window, trying to shake off the little snow that was falling off of his coat. He had been so nice and warm until Rosalie had gotten up....But he was sure he wasn't welcome inside the store...He never had been, really. Though, once he met eyes with Noah, the man gave a sigh and jerked his head back. Rather happily, the buck stepped in, and strode over, nuzzling against the man, who wrinkled his nose. He was nice and warm now, yesss~. All thanks to his new best buddy~.

"Ah, really now. How interesting. I'll have to see if I can stop by." He nodded, rubbing at his eyes a little more. "I do my best. Not everything gets recorded. Just the unusual things...Had a few rare books, but then they got bought by this here lady." He gestured to Rosalie with a sigh as she crossed her arms.

"Oh yes, I buy a lot of rare books from you. And then there's the ones you manage to somehow...force upon me." She's rather careful with her language, unsure that gifting would be a proper term. He waves it off with another deep sip of the tea however. "And yes. He is a hedgewitch. Just no familiar..."

"I'm not a particularly good one at that." He admits, "I mess up more than I can get right." Rosalie nods, bending down to pet Maul gently. She seems to enjoy such a thing, while the male is far less interested, taking to his tea with silence.

"Yes, a rather lazy rook at that." She frowns, looking up at Aponi. "He takes pretty good care of himself on his own, though has, on occasion, been a troublemaker." She laughs, watching Aelius nuzzle the rather stiff bookkeeper. "Looks like he's found another friend already, even though he spent the entire night right next to you."

Rosalie finally stands, watching Aelius' delight grow even more at the apple, which he takes to munching on rather quickly, jostling Noah in the process. "Yeah, she's a chosen. He can be a pain in the a** sometimes. Aelius right?" He glances to the smith for confirmation, gaining a nod.