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 Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:00 pm
Uber Duber Books
Super end-of-the-semester sale, 50% off on selected stock!
That was what the flyer had said. Christa, being an avid lover and collector of all things literature, was immediately drawn to the store. It must've been new since she didn't recognize the name, but since when did she scrutinize a store for its name? It was the stock she was interested in. And so, despite her father's protests, the teen hobbled out to the store unattended. She wanted some alone time with her precious books, and she'd been good in keeping with the house arrest rules. An exception was permitted.
The teen smiled when she could smell all the leather bound novels just waiting for her on the shelves. She wore capri pants and a simple shirt that day. The pants were to make changing her leg bandages much easier, especially in emergency situations. Only her right legs was heavily bandaged - the other had minor bruising and scraping enough to warrant a few Band-aids. She walked with a limp, but only a gun would keep her from her books. And even then, the gun would have to be pretty damned big.
Christa wasn't looking for anything in particular, so she started to cruise the aisles slowly, starting at the first. Anything and everything was looked at, and she even carried a small plastic basket that they keep at the register. She almost wished for a shopping cart to lean on.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:17 pm
It wasn't often he lowered himself to little book stores, as opposed to the big chain ones. But the sale, not that he was one of those who went after every sale around, decided to see if they had any books he could add to those he already owned. He didn't read stories often, though when he did they tended to be dark, fantasy, or classics. He had a collection of books on plants, from how to grow certain ones to herb lore. He studied whatever he could about plants .
Alexandre had only been out to get an espresso, from his favorite little cafe, when he'd spotted the book store. He'd never seen it before, which was odd since he frequented the near by cafe often enough for the workers to all know his order.
Hesitating, for a moment, at the door he decided to head inside. A black polo shirt, and dark jeans, made up the blonds attire for the day. It was slight heeled boots that hit the wooden floor as he went to collect a basket, just in case he wound up needing it.
That done, the basket hung off his left arm, he asked for a point in the right direction and off he went. The floor boards he noted were old, they made sounds as you walked. Either the store was that old, or it was done on purpose. It seemed something some shops did for a reason, to set a feeling. It typically did a good job, and here was no exception.
Turning down the isle he'd been motioned to, by the female worker, he started browsing the book spines. Some of the books he had, it seemed they did indeed have ones he did not. Grabbing the first one, some witch herb lore book, it went into his basket. Well, his parents would see a somewhat unexpected withdrawal via debit card.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:38 pm
Hmm. She had all these books already, or at least the ones that mattered. Christa looked up, knowing already that she was in the classical literature section. She'd already picked up a great deal of the stock available at other stores (but she did appreciate this store's pricing to be sure). The teen frowned a bit in disappointment and told herself there were other aisles. Her father wanted a cookbook if she could find one with vegetarian recipes, her brother liked comic books and manga of any sort (aside from girly ones), so she had no qualms about continuing to search aisle by aisle.
Rounding a corner, the gray haired teen spotted another person in the aisle shopping just as she was. He was a blond young man, probably slightly younger than herself, carrying the basket in the crook of his arm. Ah, one of those types. Christa hid the shaking of her head and looked up to see one of her father's desired research books on gardening. Ah, perfect! Unfortunately, she was too short to grab at the book she wanted, and a sideways glance at the boy proved - oh dear - he was even shorter than she was. Suddenly she felt a great deal more adequate. Despite her injured leg, her love of books prevailed and the girl stood on her tip toes to reach up and...
THUD!
Several books went tumbling down to the ground in a heap. Christa blew out her bangs and choked down a delightful stream of curse words and bent to pick them up. Her leg protested. Loudly.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:57 pm
He'd heard someone else walking around, weather it was the worker from the register, another worker, or someone else shopping he could care less. The cup, filled half way with hot espresso held in his left hand, his right hand placing yet another book into his basket. The blond attention was grabbed as someone, a gray haired female, rounded the corner coming onto the isle he was on.
It seemed that while taller than he was, he really didn't mind being as short as he was,she couldn't reach the book she had been intending to get. He'd been about to make some comment, about getting assistance, when it seemed she'd decided to help herself...and topple a load of books. One landing on his right foot, he jerked it back, he looked down at the books on the floor and her bent form. It was than that he noted the bandages, a rather large amount in fact.
It was this sight which had him bending down to assist, something he'd normally never do. But he managed to pile the books in his basket, at least some of them anyway.
"You should have asked for help, it was obvious you weren't going to manage on your own." She simply wasn't tall enough, not to mention she was injured. Standing he started to remove books from his basket, and line them on a book shelf, he couldn't put them back in their proper place; he was shorter than she was. "Stay here." And he left the isle, heading for one where he'd seen a step stool; on his way here he'd passed by another isle with it.
Grabbing the step stool, it was in the small biography section, he returned. Carrying it in his right hand, not once had he set down his cup nor his basket, he settled it in place before getting up on to it. The books he'd had settled lining a shelf, were removed one at a time and set properly onto their shelf. "Which book did you need?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:27 am
"Obvious to you, maybe." she retorted, but without any sort of venom to it. It was more of a sarcastic remark based on his attitude. Ooh, snobby, were we? Naturally she was thinking he was one of those rich yuppie kids with the coffee and the way he held the basket, but she wasn't about to say anything. No doubt she looked like a disheveled mess that frequently drops things on herself if her bandages were to be believed. She did appreciate his help though and was rather surprised he did anything at all. He could have broken a nail or worse! A split end oh god.
Christa choked down a chuckle. "Thanks for your help." she said, bending down to pick up the last of the books on the floor. The stool definitely would have helped. "This book didn't look like it was the cornerstone of the whole structure so... I took a risk, I suppose." She held up the book in question, the gardening book her father was after. It had landed on the bottom of the pile, naturally. Things simply worked that way in this universe and there was nothing to be done about it.
One of the cashiers went to see what was wrong, but by the time they arrived, the mess had been picked up. At least the kid's coffee hadn't spilled. It was probably hot and could have ruined the books. As far as Christa was concerned, it was a job well done. "And what are you after in this aisle, if you don't mind me asking?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:46 pm
One might think that, as she was, about the splint ends and broken nails. But often he could be found wrist deep in potting soil, with dirt under his nails. He was accustomed to dirty and messiness, not that he let this be known of in how he appeared outside of his green house. It would be absolutely embarrassing to be seen in such a state.
"Your welcome, though you shouldn't go reaching for what you can't hope to reach." Stating this as he put the books away, a sip from his coffee cup taken. He wasn't a yuppie, he didn't just agree with everything or follow other people around. In fact, he lacked in the friends department in all honesty. But he did have money, not like Lily or other people in Destiny City, he just liked to spend whatever he could and live as high as he could. His parents didn't seem to mind, though he suspected the only child thing played a huge role in that.
Looking at the book she had, that apparently was the cause of all of this, he nodded. "A good book, I have it myself." Getting off the stool, just before the cashier showed up, he turned and gave the poor worker a cold glare. Turning back to the books, to see what else would find it's way to his basket.
"Plant books, anything on plants and herb lore. Yourself?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:02 pm
She let the rest of the conversation slide. If he was interested in books of any kind (besides the picture books, as those don't count in the slightest), then a change in the conversation was overdue. Long overdue. Christa didn't often find someone willing to talk about books in the same way she did. The teen held the book so its spine and title faced the boy. "This one's for my father. He's looking to start a vegetable garden soon. I myself am interested in a myriad of things - classical literature, history, research articles, things about space, horror and fantasy novels... there's very little I won't read at least one time."
She forgot to mention manga or comic books for her brother, but she hardly considered those to be 'real books' in any sense of the word. Christa frowned. "Are you a botanist?" Either that or a gardener of some kind. Or a student of holistic medicine. It wasn't often you would find a young man interested in tending to plants. In fact, it was quite a rarity. It was much more common that men this boy's age were more intrigued by tending to a car or a girlfriend than something in the ground.
While awaiting his answer, the mess was cleaned up and Christa found herself thumbing through the book her father wanted her to buy. Interesting. She didn't have a green thumb like he (or the boy next to her) did, but that didn't stop her from being fascinated by the whole process.
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:22 pm
Listening to her, and going over the list of books she'd read, he mentally shook his head. It sounded like she'd read anything, he doubted her words over there being very little she wouldn't read. He figured there actually wasn't anything she wouldn't read. "I see, you sound well read. And no, I'm not a botanist. That would imply training and more knowledge than I posses at present."
Wondering if he should go further into his answer, and explain why all the books, he decided to answer further. It didn't take long to come to that decision either. "I garden, I find I enjoy growing various plants. I learn how to take care of each one and what purpose each can serve, aside from there appeal." It was the reason for the mix of books, some about how to tend to plants and others dealing with herb lore. He had some books, at home, about specific types of plants or growing plants in a greenhouse. It seemed a greenhouse changed certain factors, not that surprising really.
"And your fathers like for plants?" It was indeed an unusual thing, for a male to like to garden, and he was well aware of this fact.
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:43 am
Christa nodded with a slight smile. She liked to think of herself as well read, but not everything she read even stayed with her. Oftentimes she read whatever was nearby and it turned out to be something she wasn't at all interested in. But it passed the time. "I think, so far, I've read everything at the house at least once. Being on bed rest will do that to you. I'd go crazy if I didn't have something to read. I don't like television and I'm not into video games. I can only watch my brother play for so long."
She idly flipped through the gardening book while listening to him. "Ah, so you garden like my father, though you sound like your operation is on a much grander scale. Dad just likes to cook and he wants to try gardening so he can have access to very fresh vegetables. I can't say I blame him." With all the recent news about outbreaks of contaminants and the rising price of organic food, it was much more cost-effective in the long run to set up one's own garden instead. Sure, the start up costs would be greater, but if you could consistently produce good food, then it was all worth it. Or so her father said.
The teen held her hand out to boy. Better introduce oneself if you're going to be in an extended conversation. "My name is Christa, by the way. And you are?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:40 pm
So her father was in it for the vegetables, being more self reliant. Not the same reason he was into plants and gardening, but a good one. It wasn't like he, and his parents, worried too much over the prices or organic; his mother insisted on buying that way. But the idea had merit, perhaps an idea he'd bring up to his mother; something they could put part of the backyard to use doing.
"I can assume, from what you've said, that it is grander. But also it is different." herbs were one thing, different from vegetables. Dried herbs, bought in the super market, lacked the flavor fresh ones had. It was the reason he'd continued his mothers growing of herbs, basil, parsley, and the like. The herbs took up a small area, on a table, right next to the door leading from the kitchen into the green house. It made for easy access, he just had to lean in, or step in only a foot or so, to reach any herb they could need.
"Christa..." Thinking over the name, for a moment, he finally nodded his head. "Alexandre." Taking the offered hand, as he gave his name.
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:53 pm
Now that she had a name to the face, Christa nodded. "So what is it you grow, Alexandre? If you don't mind me asking. Let's walk for a bit. My leg could use some stretching and I'd like to look at a few more books." The teen started to slightly limp in the direction of the next aisle. The movement at first was straining and painful because of all the stretching skin and sore muscle, but activity loosened it up after a while. The reference books on science and astronomy were coming up next if she read the signs correctly. Maybe she could find something on space.
Rounding the corner, Christa stopped near the beginning and picked up a book on astrology. While she didn't believe in such things, at least not yet, many people certainly did. Melinda might like this book. "Sometimes it amazes me to think that, back several hundred years ago, people assumed the world was flat and things like the stars influenced you from the day you were born. Interesting how things change, don't you think?" She looked over her shoulder to see if the blond boy was following along or not. Christa was used to talking to herself anyway.
"Maybe a few decades more will give us more answers to life's burning questions."
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:52 pm
He had stayed behind, if only for long enough to collect three other books. Those books in his basket he caught up with the female, with little to no problem. "I grow herbs, flowering plants. Nothing specific, or particular." Though he did have a few orchids, just like he had several different herbs. But he didn't see that as important, or mention worthy.
Listening to her speak, about stars, an ancient times he found himself agreeing. But he also couldn't help but adding in his own comments. "Yes, I await the time people stop clinging to things of make believe in order to explain the unknown, simply because they are unable to accept not knowing something." He stated, with a rolling of his slate colored eyes. What stupid people existed, they clung to things, which were clearly fake, simply in order to explain things which they could not do.
"It's the same with creating deities, and myths to explain them, who were the cause for all manner of things. Once more, humanity shows it can't handle the unknown for what it is - unknown." He understood there were unknown things and accepted it. There were things they didn't know, yet, and things people would likely never know. There were also things which would crop up as other things were solved. He understood this and honestly he slept peacefully. If it didn't directly effect his life, and it wasn't something which interested him than he wasn't bothered by it.
It wasn't like he'd never seen the unknown, something which he couldn't explain. It was only once and long ago, months ago. Something he'd slowly, in his free time when no one knew, that he worked slowly on a painting depicting what he had seen. It wasn't to accept it, or understand it in some way. it was simply a painting of a scene, something he had seen. Nothing more and nothing less, it was as it was.
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Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:04 pm
Christa hobbled along happily, fingers tracing over the spines of books she'd read or owned and ones she hadn't gotten a chance to read yet. It was a pity that her money didn't allow her to just buy the whole store and be done with it. What a life of luxury that would be. "I certainly don't have a problem with people inventing deities in the past, but that was before science came along and actually could explain things like how the world was round, how the sun is the center and not the earth. But what amazes me is that people still cling to things that have been disproved."
She wasn't going to go into specifics because she didn't want to offend him or anyone else. Still, the philosophy stood. Christa liked to think of herself as open-minded when it came to certain things, but when you're flying in the face of truth because you can't handle it, problems will arise. Science was there for a reason, and Christa had a downright obsession with knowing. Knowledge was like a nectar to her. "I'd like to think some of humanity can handle the unknown just fine. It's the other parts of it that I worry about."
Not worried enough to stay up all night wringing her hands, mind you, but sometimes Christa felt positively deafened by the rampant ignorance that surrounded her at times.
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Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:33 pm
"I don't see why people back then couldn't just handle knowing that some things had no explanation. Creating something to comfort ones self is a bit pathetic and self coddling." At least he saw it as such. Accepting the unknown wasn't such a bad thing, it left one with the ability to imagine the answers, and enjoy the sheer mystery of things around them. To know everything, or make up some explanation, took something away from life.
"I think some people can handle it, but hardly enough." He spoke, rolling his eyes. "I find it insulting that some people think they need to know everything and make things up to fill in the gaps. It takes away from the mystery and I think somehow it cheapens the experience of life. Without mystery we loose some of our need for imagination, to imagine all the possible answers." Maybe it sounded like he contradicted himself, he knew he did. But he didn't mid thinking of a God or multiple Deities. But he didn't think people should limit themselves to these things only. They should think of all kinds of things, rather than one single answer to everything. He just hoped the female in front of him understood what he meant, how he meant it. Alexandre had a feeling she'd get it, that he didn't like people locking in on one answer and making that become the truth to them. It left them closed to all other possibilities and thus cheapened the experience.
As he spoke the blond looked over some of the books, some seemed interesting enough by their title. Others seemed rather boring and droll to be honest. Though he knew not to look at a cover and judge a book by such. Titles could do a book a serious injustice, he'd found.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 5:45 pm
"The world back then was a very scary place. Not that it isn't now, but I suppose it would be scarier." Christa responded, turning the corner to another aisle filled with medical books, books on psychology and self-help therapies. She liked the first two, but self-help was always a bit on the odd side to her. Therapists were in business for a reason, and if the mind was ill, it may not be able to heal itself by itself.
She continued on, tracing some of the medical books she was interested in. "Back then, disease was rampant and no one knew why, they didn't know how the body worked or how to heal the sick. They had poor hygiene, poor working conditions... They had so much to fear that I think it makes sense why they were so enraptured with the idea of explaining everything." In a world that made little sense, having an answer, no matter how wrong, probably brought comfort. Christa could understand that much, but the modern man has solved so many mysteries that the fear of the unknown seemed very archaic. Unnecessary.
Christa certainly didn't agree that imagination was lost once things had been answered, though, but she was an odd subscriber to how the imagination worked. "There are always going to be mysteries this generation hasn't solved yet, so I don't think it cheapens life, per se. Besides, solutions came from that imagination, and then the mind moved onto the next thing. I highly doubt we'll run out of problems to solve anytime soon."
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