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 Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 1:36 am
One of the few benefits to less food, other than a really trim waistline, was that it was a bit easier to procure believable disguises for sojourn's into the city. It wasn't often that he did so as a civilian in plain clothes, but that also worked to the benefit of the charade. Herger Solberg was a neatly uniformed delivery man for a private contractor of EMS- a very believable profession for a man with muscles. And a believable profession for the purposes of carrying packages here and there to all sorts of places all over the city. With the business being an offshore partnership sort of deal with headquarters in Norway, it also meant that most paperwork more than checked out for checkpoints or random search and seizure. For now, in a clean, starched and pressed blue button down, cap and slacks, dark chocolate messenger bag slung over one shoulder, Herger approached the small bookstore that had been mentioned by a Watcher earlier that day as a possible refuge. No harm checking it out. A bookstore...there are so many hungry minds out there. Fair tales and poetry. Not just that dragons exist, but that they can be beaten. He pushed the door open, listened if there was a bell attached to let the proprietor know there was a customer as he called out, "Hallo? Package delivery."
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:28 pm
Sabina was sweeping the floor. She had just had a family in with kids. It had been so nice to see some smiling faces that she had to bring down some cookies for them. Crumbs littered the floor where they had sat and read. If anyone had been watching, it would be obvious she wore heels all the time. She moved confidently and smoothly in her platform stilettos. Her floral skirt swished around her knees. She had on a plain white tank top with a denim jacket over it since she kept it cold in the store for the books. Bangles decorated her arms and she wore a necklace with a crescent moon dangling from it. There was no bell to announce customers but the door was old and squeaked louder than an old person getting up after sitting down for a long time. She turned with a smile already on her face. "Hello, welcome to my lovely store." The smile never left her face as she had to look up. "I don't recall ordering anything. What did you bring me?" It was almost pleasant to look up at a man. There weren't many men that were taller than her since she was six feet tall. She didn't know what side he stood for but she never failed to be pleasant with everyone. The store smelled of cinnamon and cookies. There were two tables off to the side and a few plush chairs scattered around. At her feet was a pile of cookie crumbs.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:10 am
It should have been disarming- the sight of a woman very much a woman, the domestic activity of cleaning and the heavy scent of baked sweet. Had he known less, or remembered less, of the Negaverse, maybe it would have. There were too many false prophets there, too many sunny windows filled with poison or a knife in the back. But it was a look of peace that once could have been fair, as fair as anyone could want for repose and welcome. For him, the word of the Watch was what he woudl trust. Not his eyes or the mirage of peace under the light of the sun. But he smiled, turning momentarily at hip to fish out a small package. It was the size of a jewelry box, wrapped in plain brown shipping paper. The addressing and postage on it was legitimate, a boon from family he didn't remember but who still loved and helped him. Helped the Resistance. On opening it, she would find a hand-whittled, wooden chess piece. The horse-head of a knight. The base of the piece was carven with the symbol of Earth. Hopefully she would take the token as a sign for what it was- what it meant he was. Hopefully, as well, she destroy it. Wood burned easily, and left no evidence to be found by enemy search. "A fine shop you have. It is yours? You are Sabine?" Sushi Surfer name mistake intentional~
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:52 am
Sabina placed the broom on the side, to lean against the wall, as she took the package from him. Her eyes lit up a little. Mail, other than bills, was something she did not usually get. "Oh, a surprise? I like surprises." If they're good ones. She didn't know yet if he could be trusted. It would be so much easier if allies shined like a lighthouse or something. But she supposed the purpose of acting as a civilian was to stay safe. The way she opened it was very delicate and lady-like. Her eyes widened completely at the chess piece. As she inspected it, her smile grew. He was an ally. Without warning, she threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. "It's Sabina and I do own it and you are a friend." Tears almost came to her eyes. Sometimes she found it difficult to remain happy in these times. Little things made her day now. Just like that family that had come in. She hoped that everyone that came in found something to smile about in her store. She pulled away after a brief moment. There was no shame on her face at hugging a stranger, only pure joy at finding a friend. Sabina felt that any ally was not a stranger to her and always welcome. "How did you know I was a knight?" Ivynian I feel like Sabina will really like Herger. He's actually taller than her.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 6:51 pm
She managed to launch high enough to get a firm grip around him, surprising enough, but the peck was moreso. Her eye shined. The worry must be terrible, every minute of every day, choosing to stay an live as though nothing was different. Nothing wrong. I wonder if it is really worth it for these poor people. For someone with so much energy. "Heart, Sabina. You are not alone. Never believe that." He pet a large hand down her shoulder-blade comfortingly, letting it drop again as she pulled away. "The resistance. The others who keep in contact with all of you in the city let those of us who do the traveling know where we can visit for help or supplies. I heard here was good. There have probably been others looking for books, but more never hurts. I do have money to buy them. " So that she didn't put herself in danger if her accounts and sales were audited. "Do you have...poetry books? And maybe nice fairytale books for small children learning to read? With dragons and castles?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 9:32 pm
She nodded in understanding. "I know I'm not alone but I'm sure you've seen, as I have, how badly this has affected some of us. I may be doing well but I've seen so many, so very many that aren't." Sabina did keep in contact with Camelot. She supposed it shouldn't have come as a surprise that someone would be sent to her for supplies even if it were for books. Money was always good. After all, she still had to pay to keep the place. Being a rare thing in the city kept business good for her. It was sad that creative ventures and businesses that supported such things were slipping away in the wake of the Negaverse taking control. "I'll say I had a special sale then. Half-off for all the children's books. The little ones deserve some kind of happiness. We have a very big selection of children's books." She walked him over to the only low shelf in the store. The shelf had older, popular children's books along with new ones and toys scattered throughout them. "My poetry section is right by the register, so I can pop one open and read when it's slow." When she looked at him again after pointing everything out, she frowned slightly. "You don't look as healthy as you should be. Let me go get food for you to take back and I'll also insist you eat something before you leave. I won't take no for an answer." She grabbed her tray of snicker doodles from under the register. "Have a cookie now. Then after you pick out your books, I'll close the store so we can go upstairs and I can pack some food for you." The look on her face suggested that arguing with her would be futile. The problem with her Order friends was that they were always insistent on not taking what she gave them.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:59 pm
He didn't offer further comment on the plights indicative to the times. There was neither more to say, nor was he one to present arguments to those who refused to take offered comfort or compliment with 'X, but Y' excuses. It was their choice. As for cookies, he certainly would never refuse those. "What if I am allergic to food?" He still gently took a snickerdoodle from the plate, sniffed it, then took a bite thoughtfully, "As long as it doesn't strain your finances or pantry only, Miss. I'm not so starving that I need to put one of our contacts at risk. Its been my own choosing to skip meals. " He followed her indications to the tiny shelving, having to kneel down in order to be able to properly not loom over it. He looked for things helpful to many early readers- Animalia, Grimm's Fairytales and Mother Goose. Thankfully all mainstays of children's literature and released in many formats over the years. It was the work of a moment to pluck them out and take them up to the counter, still working on his cookie, and looked for the poetry books supposedly near the counter "These ones....can you suggest something witty and funny for poetry? I do not read so much..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2014 1:36 am
Sabina laughed at his comment, a short laugh, but one still filled with mirth. "A joker I see." It was good to see that someone could still find anything to joke around about. "Well, I'm sure you won't be allergic to my food. And no need to worry. I'll be fine. I can always go buy more food. Those...people...know I make food for my customers on occasion." She didn't want to say the Negaverse or chaos, not in her bookstore. In her upstairs studio, she spoke more freely. Down here, she was more cautious. At his inquiry, she pulled out a couple smaller books, ones with uplifting poetry. Then she grabbed some from the children's section, funny ones especially made for younger ones. There was one book that she picked out that seemed to have meaning to her, 'The Giving Tree'. Sabina gazed at it fondly before looking back up at him. "These should be good for everyone waiting for you. Would you like to pick out anything else before I ring you up?" Ivynian Sorry it took so long for me to get to this!
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 11:46 pm
"No, I think it will be enough. Its a lot of books already to fit into the bag, " He motioned to the messenger bag at his side. It was the only space he could allot to books, the rest of his carrying capacity had to go to carrying out supply when he got to his other drop points. He put the ones he'd chosen out from the little shelve into a neat stack with the ones she'd pulled. "This is all." Sushi Surfer Go ahead and write the closer in your next tag! We can end it with them going up to grab a bite
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:48 pm
Sabina looked at all the books he had. She didn't scan any of them or look at the prices. "$50 please. That should be enough to cover any costs to me and still allows me to feel at ease about not charging you full price." Overall, he did have a lot of books. Even though many poetry books were small, a lot were from small publishers. Shockingly, kids books were quite pricey, most over $10. But these were for friends, allies, kids that had to cling to hope in a dark time. It was the very least she could do. After exchanging the money, she closed the store up so they could sit down and have a meal. It gave her the chance to catch up on things. She did still have leftover tacos from a previous meal. That did not go to waste. In the end, Sabina had met another ally and felt like she wasn't entirely useless here in the city.
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