.:RP - Between Bookshelves and Piles of Dust:.
Esopha
Gilles had a technique for cleaning out the bookshop, now. He would start at one end of the shop and work is way counter-clockwise, dusting, mopping, sweeping, cataloging as he teetered through stacks of old, dusty books and pages, his hair bobbing in the air with vigor, his eyes focused on that little piece of dirt that would not come up. This was a very good thing, because lately Chikara had been handing him more and more of the responsibilities of keeping up with the bookshop. After Alan's apartment was robbed, she seemed to be focused on giving the entire building a security update, which not only consisted of locks and chains but also of strange little letters she wrote over doorways and beneath windowsills. This was all over Gilles' head.
"Mr. Hoppo! Where did you put the sponges?" Gilles asked, drying the floor with such gusto that it almost seemed like his arm was going to fly off at any moment. "I need the sponges! Do we have sponges in the bar?" Gilles wouldn't open the connecting door, however, even in the all-important search for sponges. He wasn't allowed in the bar when Chikara wasn't home, and anyway, it was so loud in there. The bookshop was mercifully quiet, and he intended to keep it that way. Gilles stood up and placed his hands on his hips, frowning at the floor in such a way that one would expect it to clean itself.
"I think it's time for a break." He announced, and threw down the rag with a triumphant hah!. He turned around swiftly and pushed open the door to the outside, breathing in the sights and sounds of Durem in the evening. Somewhere in the distance, someone was barbequeing on their apartment balcony, and a hesitant melody played from one of the more somber bars across the way. He propped the door open with a wooden wedge, flipped the sign around from 'Closed' to 'Open' and collapsed behind the counter, hoping that he would have a few minutes before any customers came in.
"Mr. Hoppo! Where did you put the sponges?" Gilles asked, drying the floor with such gusto that it almost seemed like his arm was going to fly off at any moment. "I need the sponges! Do we have sponges in the bar?" Gilles wouldn't open the connecting door, however, even in the all-important search for sponges. He wasn't allowed in the bar when Chikara wasn't home, and anyway, it was so loud in there. The bookshop was mercifully quiet, and he intended to keep it that way. Gilles stood up and placed his hands on his hips, frowning at the floor in such a way that one would expect it to clean itself.
"I think it's time for a break." He announced, and threw down the rag with a triumphant hah!. He turned around swiftly and pushed open the door to the outside, breathing in the sights and sounds of Durem in the evening. Somewhere in the distance, someone was barbequeing on their apartment balcony, and a hesitant melody played from one of the more somber bars across the way. He propped the door open with a wooden wedge, flipped the sign around from 'Closed' to 'Open' and collapsed behind the counter, hoping that he would have a few minutes before any customers came in.
Draconayzia
He had run out of books to read. Simple as that. His guardian simply didn't have enough books that he could read without needing to have them translated. Or read to him which actually annoyed him. He read faster than most would suspect.
So now he was scouring the book shops in Durem. Barton had turned out to be a flop. Not enough good books to read. Again.
Finding the door from the directions he found the knob and pushed open the door. Immediately he was hit with the scent of old tomes and dim lighting.
This was much better.
So now he was scouring the book shops in Durem. Barton had turned out to be a flop. Not enough good books to read. Again.
Finding the door from the directions he found the knob and pushed open the door. Immediately he was hit with the scent of old tomes and dim lighting.
This was much better.
Esopha
Gilles sat up as if electrocuted when Lonan walked in. He needed to work already? Gilles could hardly stand the injustice of it all. He stood and scooped Mr. Hoppo onto his shoulder, looking curiously at his customer. What an odd fellow. First of all, this man had wings. People just weren't supposed to have wings. (But then, people weren't supposed to have blue hair and tails, but that wasn't the point.) There was something else about this person...but Gilles couldn't place it. He gave a mental shrug and smiled quite forcibly. "Hello, valued customer!" he said, in the painful tone of voice used by people who are terribly bored and are trying to cover it up by being sing-song. "Can I help you with anything today?"
Draconayzia
Lonan actually winced at the volume and forced cheer.
"Could you just direct me to books in Braille, please. Or ones with old, raised ink?" His voice was soft, almost as though speaking required too much energy to bother with.
The staff in his hand lightly swept along the floor so he wouldn't run into shelves. WHen he turned his gaze to the smaller figure it was rather obvious why he requested those books.
"Could you just direct me to books in Braille, please. Or ones with old, raised ink?" His voice was soft, almost as though speaking required too much energy to bother with.
The staff in his hand lightly swept along the floor so he wouldn't run into shelves. WHen he turned his gaze to the smaller figure it was rather obvious why he requested those books.
Esopha
Gilles stared at the man. Alright, Gilles would admit he wasn't happy. But he was pretending to be happy! And if this man wasn't happy with Gilles pretending to be happy when he wasn't, Gilles wasn't going to be happy or pretend to be happy. However, Lonan's tone of voice piqued the child's curiosity. "I...don't know if we have any books in...ah...Braille?...but I know we have some old books. Chikara - my momma - usually keeps them locked up, only for specially interested customers." Gilles scooted around the desk and kept far away from the man's cane, just in case. "What's Braille? Is it a special language?" Gilles asked, still staring at the older Shattered.
Draconayzia
"It's raised dot's on a page. Like this."
He pulled a small book from his pocket and opened it. THere were not words on the page, just rows of dots in some sort of order.
"Braille is a sort of written language for those who are blind."
His wings ruffled a bit, settling tightly agianst his back so as to not knock over any books or other items in the store.
He pulled a small book from his pocket and opened it. THere were not words on the page, just rows of dots in some sort of order.
"Braille is a sort of written language for those who are blind."
His wings ruffled a bit, settling tightly agianst his back so as to not knock over any books or other items in the store.
Esopha
Gilles blinked, as comprehension slowly dawned on his face. And then he blushed a furious shade of red, realizing that he had been rude to a person who was handicapped, and that was probably frowned upon in society. Oh dear. "Oh." He gazed at the book of Braille that Lonan produced out of his pocket, a frown ticking in one corner of his brow. Gilles had never seen anything like that before, and he had certainly seen a lot of books during his time spent in the shop. So they didn't have any Braille books - but they certainly had old books, and the man said old books, right?
The older books were kept in a specially locked counter underneath the check-out desk. Gilles had the key to the lock, and wasn't hesitant to open it for this man, though he might have been for another. "I don't think we have any Braille. I'm sorry. There might be some in the Miscellanious section, but I don't know, we don't usually get many...interested people." Gilles stuttered on the last word, realizing that 'blind people' would not be a good description of the customers."Would you like to see our older books? I can take them out and put them on the counter for you." Gilles' hand was already halfway to his pocket when he realized he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Gilles, by the way. What's your name?"
The older books were kept in a specially locked counter underneath the check-out desk. Gilles had the key to the lock, and wasn't hesitant to open it for this man, though he might have been for another. "I don't think we have any Braille. I'm sorry. There might be some in the Miscellanious section, but I don't know, we don't usually get many...interested people." Gilles stuttered on the last word, realizing that 'blind people' would not be a good description of the customers."Would you like to see our older books? I can take them out and put them on the counter for you." Gilles' hand was already halfway to his pocket when he realized he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Gilles, by the way. What's your name?"
Draconayzia
THere was a soft sigh from the teen, one hand brushing his hair back from his face as the other put away the book. Another person who fumbled because he was different.
"That's alright. I'd like to see those books, thank you. Also, do you have any on henna designs? They're a type of Hindu body-inking."
One eyebrow quirked up. Well, at least the smaller one was relaxing. "Lonan."
As he moved to follow to the counter his staff bumped a shelf, sending a pile of cards skittering to the floor. "Drat. My apologies." Kneeling down his hands skated over the floor, picking up the cards he could find.
"That's alright. I'd like to see those books, thank you. Also, do you have any on henna designs? They're a type of Hindu body-inking."
One eyebrow quirked up. Well, at least the smaller one was relaxing. "Lonan."
As he moved to follow to the counter his staff bumped a shelf, sending a pile of cards skittering to the floor. "Drat. My apologies." Kneeling down his hands skated over the floor, picking up the cards he could find.
Esopha
Gilles looked up from behind the desk and paled, his throat constricting and fear rising up in black waves from his stomach. The deck was supposed to be upstairs! What was it doing down here? He forced himself to look down, take deep breaths, remain calm. By his foot a card lay, face down, it's glossy surface tempting and forbidden - just next to his shoe. Gilles bent down to pick it up without thinking. The Hermit. Gilles thought rapidly, the words coming without restraint, hungrily eating up the child's mind, The Hermit indicates- No, no, no. Put it down and move away. Gilles shook himself, and gave his wrist a hard pinch. Then the child placed the card on the desk, and removed the stack of old, crinkling books from the depths of the desk and onto its surface. "I'll get the rest of the cards. Don't worry. Do you need help to get to the desk?" Gilles asked, his voice tight.
Draconayzia
They felt odd, larger than playing cards and not the same shape as the reference cards he was used to. Finding one face up he let his hand roam over the surface. The ink was raised just enough for him to discern the shapes and figures.
His hand abruptly stopped when he heard the tight voice of the child. "What is wrong? Are these dangerous some how? I find that slightly hard to believe, the images are beautiful." Somehow he managed to find all of the other cards, standing up and walking over to the counter.
His mind moved to something he and Elle had talked about, shared to a degree. He wondered....
"Is this yout talent then?"
His hand abruptly stopped when he heard the tight voice of the child. "What is wrong? Are these dangerous some how? I find that slightly hard to believe, the images are beautiful." Somehow he managed to find all of the other cards, standing up and walking over to the counter.
His mind moved to something he and Elle had talked about, shared to a degree. He wondered....
"Is this yout talent then?"
Esopha
Gilles watched Lonan examine the cards with nothing less than panic rising in his throat. He didn't want someone so...so...helpless around those things. Lonan couldn't see at all, so how could he cope with seeing the not-truly-there-but-soon-to-be-now? Gilles bit the inside of his cheek, watching the older man study the cards. "They shouldn't show people what they show." Gilles stuttered over the words. It was hard to describe. "It's not right. People shouldn't be able to know. Do you want to see the books or not?"
Gilles blanched when Lonan asked him the next question. His talent? Gilles couldn't respond. Was it a talent? Could it be a talent? Did he want something like...that...to be his talent. "I don't know what you mean." He said, haltingly, his fingers and toes growing cold now, his heart thundering in his chest. "It just startled me when they fell, that's all. They're not special." It was a lie, and Lonan would tell. That was why he was The Hermit. The Hermit that lights the right-hand path, and sees for the people who cannot see themselves. But Gilles was pushing that knowledge down, because he didn't want to think about the cards.
Gilles blanched when Lonan asked him the next question. His talent? Gilles couldn't respond. Was it a talent? Could it be a talent? Did he want something like...that...to be his talent. "I don't know what you mean." He said, haltingly, his fingers and toes growing cold now, his heart thundering in his chest. "It just startled me when they fell, that's all. They're not special." It was a lie, and Lonan would tell. That was why he was The Hermit. The Hermit that lights the right-hand path, and sees for the people who cannot see themselves. But Gilles was pushing that knowledge down, because he didn't want to think about the cards.
Draconayzia
"And what do they show? And please, don't try to lie again, your voice falters and it pitches sharp."
Sighing softly he stood next to the counter while the books were brought up. "Why do you reject something that could be a valueable asset? Talents, no matter how disturbing they can be, can always be used for a benefit of some sort."
A wing arched out, gently touching the boy's shoulder. "Or are you afraid?" There was no accusation in his voice, just gentle concern despite the lack of expression.
Sighing softly he stood next to the counter while the books were brought up. "Why do you reject something that could be a valueable asset? Talents, no matter how disturbing they can be, can always be used for a benefit of some sort."
A wing arched out, gently touching the boy's shoulder. "Or are you afraid?" There was no accusation in his voice, just gentle concern despite the lack of expression.
Esopha
Gilles winced. Yes, The Hermit indeed, if he could tell that easily that Gilles was lying. Which path did he light? The right-hand path could be many, many different paths, depending on where you were standing and whose hand you were counting. And then what about the people who wanted to take the left-hand path? There was no card for them. Gilles shook his head. "They show...what's going to happen. But not really. Only hints. You don't really understand until it hapepns." And then Lonan said something that made Gilles angry. The deck wasn't a 'valuable asset!' It was a burden that Gilles wished he had thrown away by now. It took some time for Gilles to get himself under control, and when he did, he said, "Imagine you knew that someone was going to die, and you couldn't stop it. Or that something bad was going to happen. Or that something good was going to happen, but you didn't know where or when or who to and why. It's not a good thing to know. People aren't supposed to know more than right-now and before." His voice trailed off, his eyes trying desperately not to look at the older man. "I'm not afraid of not knowing. I'm not afraid of knowing. I just...don't want to see more than I have to see." He said this last bit very quietly, looking at his feet.
Draconayzia
"That makes a sort of sense I think. Nothing's paved out until it happens after all."
He could hear the strain in the youth's voice and decided to offer up his own balance. "Imagine then, that you felt that person die. That you lived that moment, that despair knowing that there was nothing to do for it but let it happen, let it pass as the cup spilled over."
The wash of sadness, of anxiety and even a tint of fear coming off the boy made a small splash go over the side of the cup. One by one scars on his chest and arms opened, offering tiny pearls of red. The teen closed his eyes and blood-tears gathered along his lashes.
"Talents are what you make them. If you choose to make them a burden, they will always be so. If you choose to use them as a strength, a way to aid those around you, then they are an asset."
He could hear the strain in the youth's voice and decided to offer up his own balance. "Imagine then, that you felt that person die. That you lived that moment, that despair knowing that there was nothing to do for it but let it happen, let it pass as the cup spilled over."
The wash of sadness, of anxiety and even a tint of fear coming off the boy made a small splash go over the side of the cup. One by one scars on his chest and arms opened, offering tiny pearls of red. The teen closed his eyes and blood-tears gathered along his lashes.
"Talents are what you make them. If you choose to make them a burden, they will always be so. If you choose to use them as a strength, a way to aid those around you, then they are an asset."
Esopha
Gilles shook his head. The older Shattered didn't seem to understand. "Some things can't be changed after a certain point, but they haven't happened yet. Some things can't be changed yet. Some things can be changed but only if certain conditions are met. It's not that simple." Gilles continued to chew the inside of his mouth, watching the teen's welts and scars blister and break, but in the vicinity of the deck, Gilles was back in that sheltered corner of his mind, where the world didn't seem to touch him all the way through. "I don't think you understand. If it felt a person die, at an instant, it would be over afterwards. There would be nothing I could do to change that. But...but knowing...and then after, when you think that maybe you could have done something, but at the same time you know you couldn't...because what if it could have happened to someone else?...and then...there wasn't really anything you could do in the first place, but it felt that way." Gilles stumbled on the words quite a bit. He had never actually predicted anyone dying, so he was trying to piece together what likely emotions would stir from a prediction like that.
"Talents...make themselves. I suppose you can choose them to be a burden...or a strength...or you can not choose them, and hope they go away." Gilles stopped and fixed Lonan with what he hoped felt like a withering look to the older man. "This book is a poem about a man killing a dragon. It's called Beowulf. Are you interested in it?" Gilles hoped that he would be able to distract the man long enough to take his deck and get it out of there.
"Talents...make themselves. I suppose you can choose them to be a burden...or a strength...or you can not choose them, and hope they go away." Gilles stopped and fixed Lonan with what he hoped felt like a withering look to the older man. "This book is a poem about a man killing a dragon. It's called Beowulf. Are you interested in it?" Gilles hoped that he would be able to distract the man long enough to take his deck and get it out of there.
Draconayzia
"There is regret, sorrow, anger, pain, hatred, despair, anything and everything. A dieing person's mind is scattered, abrupt, and frantic. And the instant isn't an instant. It lingers. Even when it's all said and done something of them lingers. It's one thing to watch a death, it's another to live through a death. Are you so sure it's me that doesn't understand?"
The teen's wing touched the young boy's back again. "Talents such as our's will not go away. They are there for a reason. The purpose is what we choose. Look at me once, right now. What do you see?"
He was not one to fall for such easy distraction.
The teen's wing touched the young boy's back again. "Talents such as our's will not go away. They are there for a reason. The purpose is what we choose. Look at me once, right now. What do you see?"
He was not one to fall for such easy distraction.
Esopha
Gilles sighed. He felt that Lonan was talking about something completely different than what he felt thrashing about in his mind, but he looked up, obligingly, since part of him knew that Lonan was right, and that Gilles was just making things up now to prevent this knowledge from seeking through. "I see you." He said flatly. "You have black hair and white eyes and pale skin and wings. They're nice wings, sort of velvety." Gilles' voice trembled at first, but it did gain strength as he went on. "You have scars on your body...but not from hitting. Your scars are there because you understand...and see what others can't see." The boy paused, not sure that he wanted to continue with the words that began to form hin his mind...but Lonan had shown him something deep and personal, so the boy felt that something needed to right that balance. "You are The Hermit. The one who lights the path, but you don't know which path to light. And The Hermit is lonely, most of the time, or lives alone, so he knows about people. But The Hermit...may not be able to see that he needs to find his place along side those people. That's what The Hermit needs to do. Find himself like he finds others." Gilles blinked, and felt himself pull out of the place in his mind. "Is that right?"
Draconayzia
Slowly the blood stopped and the scars closed. Even the blood seemed to fade away until there were only the barest traces of it left, a slight metalic tang around his person.
One of the teen's hands found Gilles' head and rested on the locks of blue hair, ruflfing them slightly. "Precisely. That blood you saw was for you. That was your despair. I could tell but only just. When you started talking, using yout talent you regained a bit of your balance. Do you understand?"
The teen was leaning against the counter a bit, keeping his hand on the child's hair was he waited for a response. He seemed..... more relaxed now. The residual tension gone despire his still straight frame.
One of the teen's hands found Gilles' head and rested on the locks of blue hair, ruflfing them slightly. "Precisely. That blood you saw was for you. That was your despair. I could tell but only just. When you started talking, using yout talent you regained a bit of your balance. Do you understand?"
The teen was leaning against the counter a bit, keeping his hand on the child's hair was he waited for a response. He seemed..... more relaxed now. The residual tension gone despire his still straight frame.
Esopha
Gilles blinked when Lonan ruffled his hair, feeling incredibly sheepish. "Oh." He said in a small voice, realizing that he said 'oh' an awful a lot today. It was getting repetitive. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you bleed. Do you want something to drink?" It was a kind of lame offer, considering heaviness of the conversation the two had just finished, but Gilles didn't know how else to diffuse the situation.
"It wouldn't be trouble if you did." He added belatedly, remembering that the teen might protest if he thought he would cause trouble. "I'd just run next door and get something from our bar." He picked up the deck off of the desk and shuffled it a bit, then put it in his pant's pocket. The weight they added wasn't really bad, but it wasn't really good either. Gilles supposed it would change based on the cards he drew.
"It wouldn't be trouble if you did." He added belatedly, remembering that the teen might protest if he thought he would cause trouble. "I'd just run next door and get something from our bar." He picked up the deck off of the desk and shuffled it a bit, then put it in his pant's pocket. The weight they added wasn't really bad, but it wasn't really good either. Gilles supposed it would change based on the cards he drew.
Draconayzia
Lonan gave a slight shrug at the apology. "Don't worry about it. Most people never even know I exist when it happens. That's my talent. I've just accepted it for what it is. Yes it hurts and yes it's not something I would actively choose if I had the choice, but I've seen the good side of it. I take the balance so someone else doesn't have to. Someone, perhaps, like you."
One wing reached out behind him, snagging a spare stool so he could sit on it. "I am perfectly fine, I have something to drink anyway that helps after those little things. I think perhaps, I'd like you to show me your talent so I can understand. Perhaps it would be easier on you if you had someone you coudl talk to about it. And I will not jodge you for it."
One wing reached out behind him, snagging a spare stool so he could sit on it. "I am perfectly fine, I have something to drink anyway that helps after those little things. I think perhaps, I'd like you to show me your talent so I can understand. Perhaps it would be easier on you if you had someone you coudl talk to about it. And I will not jodge you for it."
Esopha
Gilles nodded as Lonan spoke, it made sense, in a way. And if Lonan didn't have a problem with it, Gilles didn't see why he should. After all, it wasn't his body that was bleeding. He did hesitate, however, when Lonan asked if he could see Gilles' talent. Talent didn't seem quite the word for it, but Gilles didn't know if he could read for another person. "You want me to read the cards for you?" He asked, his voice faltering a little. "I haven't done that for anyone before, except on accident. And it wasn't that fun. But I think I could do it." Gilles remembered the look on Chikara's face when she looked at the picture of that man...Gilles didn't know who he was. But he wouldn't try to find out any dark secrets about Lonan, and he had asked... "I can't promise anything...but I can try."
Draconayzia
"That's completely fine. If you had said yes, unequivically I would have known that you hadn't accepted a thing. But the fact you are willing to try speaks volumes. If you are successful, bravo. If not, that is fine as well."
He sat patiently, waiting for instructions or words as his hand fished out a vial. He downed the cotents in one gulp. It tasted horrible but it put him back to himself in a few minutes.
He sat patiently, waiting for instructions or words as his hand fished out a vial. He downed the cotents in one gulp. It tasted horrible but it put him back to himself in a few minutes.
Esopha
Gilles bit back another sigh and took out the tarot deck, running his thumb over the edge of the first card. He cut the deck twice, and shuffled it loosely, then cut it again, placing each half on the desk. He picked up the first card from the first pile: The Wheel of Fortune. This card was placed below that stack, and he picked the next card: The King of Wands. Gilles could feel the story they wrote in his mind, whispering the meaning of the pictures in his inside-ear. "Something...or someone...is making you grow. But it's not a bad thing, and it's not a good thing. This person..." Gilles eyed the picture of The Wheel, the woman on the card giving an impish smile. "I don't know. I don't think they're really...all there. Or something. I don't know. But you're changing because of them, in ways that you can't really control." Gilles really sighed this time. His head hurt.
Draconayzia
The teen gave a small nod, following what was being said. So far everything was correct. He stayed silent, one hand trailing up to rub at the child's head in an uncharacteristic show of concern. He could practically hear the muscles tensing up.
Esopha
Gilles relaxed slightly. "I think that's all." He looked up at the older Shattered expectantly. Did his reading make sense at all? It didn't make sense to Gilles, but that didn't mean anything, because he wasn't the person who the cards were drawn for.
Draconayzia
"Yes, that actually made perfect sense to me. You did well." He gave the smaller Shattered a squeeze on his shoulder, the closest he'd ever come to giving someone outside his family a reassuring hug.
Pulling out another vial from his pocket he offered it to Gilles. "It's just a bit of sweet tea. Now, did you say something about Beowulf? I remember reading a rather badly translated version before."
Pulling out another vial from his pocket he offered it to Gilles. "It's just a bit of sweet tea. Now, did you say something about Beowulf? I remember reading a rather badly translated version before."
Esopha
Gilles smiled gratefully at Lonan breathing in sweet air and almost glowing with relief, and placed a hand on the one Lonan had placed on his shoulder. He was glad that he had interpreted the cards correctly, but he was tired and couldn't speak that well. Hopefully, the man would understand that. Gilles quickly took up the cards and deck and shuffled them again, then slipped them into his pocket again. He accepted the tea, wishing for an instant that he was old enough to drink liquor, and tipped some of it into this mouth. It was quite good, actually. Gilles coughed twice and found his voice. "Yes...it's here. You're welcome to take it. I don't think it's an important copy. We got it for free."
Draconayzia
"Good. Do you have any other books you think might fit? I try not to limit my reading, if I did I'd have run out of material long ago."
He let the boy sip at the tea while his fingers skimmed pages, picking up the words. This version was translated much better than the other he'd read.
He let the boy sip at the tea while his fingers skimmed pages, picking up the words. This version was translated much better than the other he'd read.
Esopha
Gilles frowned and read out the titles to the older man, his eyes searching through the books for words that sounded interesting. "A Tale of Two Cities...Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...The Scarlett Letter...The Song of Roland...and...I think that's all." He looked at the last two books with a dubious eye. Were those titles correct? The gold finish on the leather covers of the books were beginning to crack and fade, though Gilles doubted this would matter very much to Lonan, though, so there was probably no problem with it.
A question pressed against Gilles' mouth, wiggling out between his lips. "Lonan...where do you live? And...you don't think that...well, my momma is kind of crazy." Gilles paused. "Uhm...really crazy. She's got a lot of energy and stuff. But I could take her to meet you, right? I think you would get along, maybe if I'm lucky kind of." Gilles stuttered, placing the books in a pile near Lonan's arm.
A question pressed against Gilles' mouth, wiggling out between his lips. "Lonan...where do you live? And...you don't think that...well, my momma is kind of crazy." Gilles paused. "Uhm...really crazy. She's got a lot of energy and stuff. But I could take her to meet you, right? I think you would get along, maybe if I'm lucky kind of." Gilles stuttered, placing the books in a pile near Lonan's arm.
Draconayzia
Lonan's hands lightly traced each cover. Yes, these were the kinds of books he was looking for. Old, worn, loved by whomever owned them last. Perfect.
"These are exactly what I was looking for. And the ink is the old type, hard and raised so that I can read the words. And all classics that I ahve been sorely wanting to read."
Lonan's face barely changed, just the corner of his mouth ticking up a bit. "This you say to someone who lives with a dragon half breed and a centaur. Everyone is crazy to a degree. I have never met your mother, but we might get along. Or at least tolerate one another. Here."
Reaching into a pocket he pulled out his wellet as well as a folded bit of paper. "Those are directions to where I live. It's fairly out of the way but you are welcome to come by." He gave the boy another bit of a hair ruffle as he stodd up, gathering the books and waiting for the total. He'd have a pleasantly full evening.
"These are exactly what I was looking for. And the ink is the old type, hard and raised so that I can read the words. And all classics that I ahve been sorely wanting to read."
Lonan's face barely changed, just the corner of his mouth ticking up a bit. "This you say to someone who lives with a dragon half breed and a centaur. Everyone is crazy to a degree. I have never met your mother, but we might get along. Or at least tolerate one another. Here."
Reaching into a pocket he pulled out his wellet as well as a folded bit of paper. "Those are directions to where I live. It's fairly out of the way but you are welcome to come by." He gave the boy another bit of a hair ruffle as he stodd up, gathering the books and waiting for the total. He'd have a pleasantly full evening.
Esopha
Gilles nodded as he ducked behind the desk and started sorting through paper bags. When he found one that would fit his purposes, he shook it out and placed in on the desk. "I think you have you pay for Alice and Cities because those look expensive. Let me see them for just a second, and I can give you the price." Gilles was suddenly all salesman again, though he was fumbling slightly with the cashier and the coin collector, but at least they were out of dangerous territory, heart-to-hearts and general mushyness. Gilles got terribly embarassed when that sort of thing was being discussed around him.
He accepted the piece of paper from Lonan and tucked it into his pants pocket - the other one, not the one with the deck in it - and began his search for a pen. He found it, and a piece of receipt paper. "Uh...A Tale of Two Cities...there, and the next one..." Gilles muttered, his voice becomming undistinguishable from the scratching sounds of the pen as he continued. "The total is...125 gold." Gilles said, signing the line above the words "SALE MADE BY."
He accepted the piece of paper from Lonan and tucked it into his pants pocket - the other one, not the one with the deck in it - and began his search for a pen. He found it, and a piece of receipt paper. "Uh...A Tale of Two Cities...there, and the next one..." Gilles muttered, his voice becomming undistinguishable from the scratching sounds of the pen as he continued. "The total is...125 gold." Gilles said, signing the line above the words "SALE MADE BY."
Draconayzia
"Here then." He handed over the bills and coins plus a generous tip. The boy earned it.
Books in the bag he headed towards the door. He turned back once before exiting. "There was something someone once told me. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing. Think on that if you would." WIth that he was back out on the street, making his way back to the Hollow to enjoy his new books.
Books in the bag he headed towards the door. He turned back once before exiting. "There was something someone once told me. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing. Think on that if you would." WIth that he was back out on the street, making his way back to the Hollow to enjoy his new books.
Esopha
Gilles was going to protest that Lonan really, really didn't have to give him so much money when he heard the teen's next statement. "Oh. Alright, then." He said rather weakly, watching Lonan exit the shop. When the teen had gone, Gilles sighed, located Mr. Hoppo (who had found a cardboard box to nibble) and started to clean the shop again, muttering to himself about mysterious people who didn't give a though to normal folks who didn't have the...the... What was the word? Gilles paused, shook his head, and picked up a sponge. The floor really needed to be cleaned again.
