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Quicksilver the Archangel
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 Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:24 pm
It was always a shame to see a bookstore closing, and the shutting down of Destiny City's resident Borders was no exception to this rule. Penelope felt a little guilty that she hadn't always used the location, convenient as it had been. Yet, with a father working in the library, it had just always been so easy to persuade him to interlibrary loan something for her, a far cheaper way to keep her with her voracious reading habit than buying every new book that caught her attention. When the books were really good or really special to her, then Penelope bought them or asked someone to buy them for her as a Christmas or birthday gift.
So, as she walked through the aisles today seeking to pick up books to take advantage of the going-out-of-business sale, she felt like something of a grave robber, an unfair, greedy opportunist. Still, twenty percent off of paper backs was a good deal... even more so on the more expensive manga and comic books that she read, and that helped to assuage her shame somewhat. She held a tiny red basket in her hands, half-full already with various volumes, and she was currently browsing the fantasy paper backs for something that would catch her eye. So many choices... and so little time to choose.
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Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:47 pm
Alexandre had rarely come to Boarders, only when he was in need of a book that the local little book stores didn't have; he didn't like to wait too much for a book to be ordered. But with Boarders going under, the sales, and books he could likely use inside the building he'd decided to go and liberate; for a small fee, whatever books he could. He wasn't someone who spent hours upon hours reading, he had other things to occupy his time with. He did his fair share of reading though, and thus had decided his collection of read and unread books needed some expansion.
The suv, car in his mind, was parked and the blond headed for the stores doors. He didn't have to worry about money, or his parents having a fit when he was done spending however much money on books. They really had no issue with such things, in fact it was accepted and considered normal behavior; right along side of his art supply expenses and his plant purchases.
Pushing the doors open he stepped inside, glad for the cool air through the building. At least they still had a.c and it seemed the cafe was still running. The first stop was for an espresso before he went to browsing the shelves of books, ignoring the sale signs.
A basket was grabbed,a as he passed the desk one went to when seeking help. Seeking out plant books, herb lore books, and he'd decided on astrology and mythology books. He had his reasons for the later two choices. Considering the war he was in he felt a need to learn a little on astrology, learn about the stars and the names of various ones. He could learn their locations, sort of, as well.
The guilt one might feel he didn't. He had no reason to, he was not the cause for the poor economy; he did his part by spending money. And it wasn't his fault Boarders was going under, he did come here from time to time. Guilt free the blond filled his basket and actually on his way to the check out, to drop off his first load of books, he dropped several that he'd been balancing rather precariously. Right in front of the isle labeled 'fantasy'.
Mentally cursing, rather than aloud given the almost melancholy feel in the air, he bent to pick up his fallen books.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:35 am
Penelope had just filled her basket with a pretty much complete set of Simon Green's Nightside books when she heard a crash. A teenage boy had vastly overfilled his own basket and was, as a result, looking at an awful mess of books on the floor. His own fault for being so ambituous and thinking that he could carry so many... but anybody who loved books so much couldn't be all bad.
She walked over to the prone figure and carefully placed her own basket on a clear spot on the floor. Then, she crouched down and began to pick up the books that had fallen, "Here... let me help you."
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 8:49 pm
He had thought he could manage, if he moved gingerly toward the check out. Not to mention he wanted to get the books before someone else happened to. It seemed a lot of people had decided to take advantage of the store going under, much like he himself was doing. Staring at each book, for a moment, as he picked them up and put them back into his basket. His drink was set on the ground, so it didn't fall over and so he had both hands to work with.
Looking up, slate eyes, meeting the females for a moment. "Thank you. Taking advantage of the sales as well?" He asked, his eyes having moved to the females basket. The help was appreciated. He just hoped whoever was ringing people up didn't mind the load of books he was getting.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:54 pm
Penelope's marroon eyes met her companion's easily, but she then followed the boy's gaze to her basket. She nodded, maintaing a polite tone as she helped stack his fallen books into his basket. "Yes, just picking up a few authors who I've been wanting more of lately. Simon Green's all I have in the basket right now... going to pick my way through Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman next. You seem... to have many more interests?"
She made this observation based on the fact that the first book she placed in the basket had been a set of star charts, while the current one in her hand was about the healing properties of tea leaves.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:51 pm
"Yes, I find a great many things manage to hold my interest. Some more than others, of course, but yes they are rather diverse." He said with something of a smile, as he glanced down the his own basket full of books. "These are going to my book shelf and will eventually be read." At leisure, whenever he had the time and mind set to sit/lay down and read.
"I don't know anything about authors to be honest, I go on subject normally." He never honestly paid attention to who wrote what he read. "Thank you for the assistance." A bit of a smile as he finished filling his basket with the books he'd dropped. "I thought I'd take advantage of the sales, and I imagined I could carry all these books."
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:20 am
Penelope colored slightly, looking down for a moment. She sometimes forgot that others didn't necessarily know what she was talking about or how awkward it could make the conversation. She rushed to correct her mistake, slightly stammering as she reached for her own basket to show him, in case he was interested, "Well, they're all fantasy writers... um, the guy I've got here, Simon Green, he does a lot of satirical, urban fantasy. I'm a big fan of his series."
Okay, so maybe still a little awkward, so she turned to what she did best--ofering to help. "Do you think you can get those to the counter now? I'd be happy to lend you a hand, if you need it... I'm sure the books and comics I'm looking for won't disappear if I make a short trip."
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:02 pm
"Urban fantasy?" That sounded like two things which opposed, unless it was like vampires and werewolves or witches in normal life and such. But somehow he thought elves, fairies and the like when he heard the word fantasy. It just was how he viewed fantasy, what he thought whenever he heard the word. So hearing urban fantasy simply didn't make sense in his mind. He was sure it would soon though, unless his thought on it's meaning was right.
"Some help would be much appreciated." Saying this as he stood slowly, with the basket full. Books still on the ground, he bent to pick up his coffee with one hand and with the other grabbed two more. "If you'd be so kind?" Standing straight again, his pale eyes watching her calmly. There were only three books on the ground still, would have been five had he not picked two up in his hand.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:23 pm
He didn't know Simon Green; okay, Penelope could accept that. Lots of people didn't know authors by name. But to not know of an entire genre of books? It was.. well, somewhat disappointing, particularly with someone who was buying so many books. Ah well; he seemed to be interested in more in practical books than fiction anyway. Still, she felt she owed him some kind of explanation, "It's... well, pretty much what it sounds like. Fantastical beings and creatures in a real life, city setting."
"Sure, no problem." Penelope picked up the three remaining books easily. She began walking towards the check out counter, walking somewhat slowly so that her companion wouldn't lose his load again. "I'm Penelope, by the way."
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:39 pm
"I'd thought that, but didn't think it true." Even though the title to the genre suggested that and only that as the answer. It was just he didn't want to be wrong and in some way, small and slight as it were, make a fool of himself. At least he'd be making a fool of himself in his own mind. He didn't like blurting out wrong answers, he didn't like blurting things out unless he was sure of his correctness, it was another reason he was searching for information though it wasn't the sort found between the pages of a book.
Seeing her keeping pace, with him, he nodded his head since he couldn't properly offer a hand. "Alexandre, a pleasure." A little bit of a bow of his head. He did like her name, something which wasn't so...common.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:26 pm
"Well, it's a bit of departure from high fantasy and pure science fiction, whether hard or soft. It's interesting to see how writers put the various concepts into a 'real world' setting." Penelope knew she was babbling and tried to curb her words, looking down at the books that she was carrying.
"Nice to meet you too. I hope you find all your books interesting... when you get a chance to read them, I mean."
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:53 am
"It must take talent to fit a fairy, or an elf, in to a modern city." Vampires and witches and werewolves he didn't think would be as hard as the other things, fairies, elves, and whatever other creatures they put in to the stories. "I'd also think it's interesting to see all the various versions of the same creatures. How it varies fro author to author." He knew of Twilight, who didn't, and he knew of the other famous vampire stories and various movies. So he knew of how drastic the variations of the vampire were.
"I will, when I get to reading them all. I plan on meeting with a friend to discuss whatever I'm reading and listen to her talk about what she's been reading. A sort of book club if you will."
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:33 pm
"Well, it takes a certain amount of talent to write anything good," Penelope pointed out. She shifted the books in her hands slightly as the approached the check out counter, sliding them onto the smooth surface. "Still, I don't hink a fairy or an elf would be tha hard to work in, depending on which mythos you used, of course. I mean, Disney type fairies are very different from the old, traditional stuff."
She turned to face the boy she was helping, ready to say goodbye until he mentioned this book club. A smile touched her face at the idea, though she had never been part of one. "A book club? That must be nice... to have someone to talk to about all the things that you've read recently."
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Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:11 am
"Of course, and everyone has their own twist to add." he stated, giving something of a shrug. "But indeed, it takes a fair amount of talent, to write anything good. So I'd assume anyone to publish is good and was good with adding in whatever they did." At least to some people. He'd never read it but he did know of the supposed horror which was Twilight, at least from what he'd heard whilst in school. It seemed a few people in his class had decided to rather loudly speak their opinion on the book, it seemed they'd done so just to annoy some huge fan of the series who was in there class. He remembered seeing her shouting at them before storming from the classroom, he hadn't been sure if it was to cry, rage, or just skip class. He knew she'd skipped class, but beyond that had been clueless and he honestly didn't care either way.
"You like to read, why not join us? We still have to set a time to meet, but if we exchange numbers we can all discuss it and meet up. It'll be offer espresso, or coffee or tea if espresso isn't your preference." Like it was his, he'd tried tea in the past and for the most part disliked it. As for coffee he didn't like that either, he found it lacking...in something. He'd tried the stuff though, it just wasn't the same. The books in his basket were taken from it and put onto the counter.
"Walk with me, I have more books to find." He said, while motioning with a finger for her to do just that - follow him.
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Quicksilver the Archangel
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:46 pm
"I... don't know about that. Sometimes mediocre, or just plain bad, writers get published just because they have a genre or theme that's hot on the market. So, I more find it a dig to find really 'good' writing. Although, of course, 'good' is subjective too."
Penelope maintained her polite stance, even though the last bit of Alexandre's speech had seemed... quite presumptious to her. Like she had nothing better to do than to follow him around. Still, she always liked to be of use, and she had already helped him once so... it wasn't too unreasonable, perhaps, to assume that she would continue to do so. So, she picked up her own basket and followed, keeping her eyes peeled for any books that appealed to her. "I'd be very glad to join in on the book club, if your fellow members don't mind."
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