|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 4:30 am
In most areas of Bibliophile, Alois noted a tidy appearance and pleasant atmosphere. Potential customers perused the shelves, scanning for books that caught their eye, maybe a familiar title, maybe a more familiar author - but not he. In the Folklore and Mythology section, a remote aisle in the store confined to a few bookcases at most, Alois commandeered one of the stepstools as a rack for potential finds. On it were stacked dusty old tomes such as American Folklore by J.T. Williams, Mysteries of the East by Elliot James Miles, The Unabridged History of Ashdown: An American Town by P. Goodman. Alois amassed yet more in the aisle, the choice picks piled neatly at the foot of their respective bookcases for genre purposes, and kept them carefully flatted against the shelves to prevent his tripping on them.
Currently he stood with book in hand, his thumbnail grazing along his lower lip as he read the last passages out of a folklorist’s book that reference Ashdown as little more than a footnote. Earbuds played music just loud enough to vehemently deny any shop staff’s attempts to get his attention. Stooping, he compared the entry written to what splayed boldly across the rumpled copy of a front page newspaper propped on the bottom shelf:
MANY DISAPPEAR IN STRANGE FOG
„Wertlos,“ he muttered aloud, dissatisied with his find. Instead he retired the book to the nearest hole in the shelf. Afterward he plucked the newspaper from its perch and carried it to the next section, which departed from historical into hearsay. Folklore of the area held promise, he hoped, given that Finn all but confirmed that magic and the metaphysical existed in Ashdown. This section, however, held far more country folklores and laced specificity as great as what he hoped for.
Another shop clerk stopped by (was this the third one or the third time from the same guy?). His hand braced against the long oak frame of the bookshelf, as if he expected to hold a conversation. His mouth opened.
Willst Du?
Willst Du mich?
Willst Du mich vergessen?
Alois managed another quick banishment by gesturing to the earbuds, whereupon the clerk departed not long afterward. Inwardly he regretted his inability to play the ‚cannot speak english‘ card in a place of literature. But, what help would a clerk be in an absurd situation such as this?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 6:57 pm
Jeremiah had, for all intents and purposes, only come into Bibliophile to check on things for Algie. Mostly because there was a new clerk working today while he was teaching and his shift at work had ended earlier in the day. He went to the register and leaned against it, dressed for colder weather, and inclined his head towards the young man that was watching the store. Apparently everything was business as usual except for one young man that knew exactly what he wanted and did not want help. What was wrong with that, Jeremiah had now clue. It was perfectly acceptable (but some people just had to always offer assistance and he would likely mention to Algie that the new hire may need to tone it down some). Still ... He was curious and finding out that the man was in the folklore section was interesting - and always set off warning bells after Heliodora - and he found himself heading that direction. Blue-green eyes immediately spied the selections that were neatly organized, scanning the titles and then up towards the man who was going through them. Jeremiah would not be so easy to get rid of and he put himself into line of sight when there was a chance and tapped a finger against his ear to show that he wanted his attention. He was still dressed for work, badge on his belt, but his jacket hid his holster and gun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 20, 2016 1:47 am
Movement in his peripheral alerted him to another intruder. Do I need to outright tell him to ******** off? Alois’ gaze shot up to set fire to his latest interruption.
And that fire petered out in a hot second.
Oh.
Oh s**t.
Swallowing, Alois removed both earbuds and tossed the pair over his shoulder. The newspaper, quickly wadded, was shoved under the armpit of his black jacket. The badge stole his attention from all else, and he watched it hawkishly, like a crow seeking shine in the tangle of grasslands. „Look,“ he started thickly, „all human remains were acquired legally and I have every right to use them for commercial gain, so whoever reported me can take their complaint and shove it up their a**.“
He paused then, realizing he might’ve jumped to conclusions. „Or.“ He held up the book in his right hand, Ashdown: The New Salem? by a fringe author. „Were you just looking for a book?“
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:48 pm
Jeremiah's expression was neutral. He did not even give an eyebrow raise at the way that the man seemed to zero in on his badge. It was not uncommon. He was, however, someone who assumed it was either because the person either had been harassed too much by police (much like he had to bust someone for going after the interns that had nothing to do with the graffiti around town) or someone who was truly up to no good. In this case, based on what he said, he assumed it was unnecessary harassment. For now."I'll keep that in mind should I receive a complaint about such." His lips may have twitched just slightly. Jeremiah's eyes scanned the cover of the book, noting the name of the book, before his they focused back on the other man's face. "Actually I was going to inquire as to what has sparked your interest in the local lore."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 5:48 am
Initially Alois stared at the man, dumbfounded, when he asked such a simple, innocuous question. A detective just waltzed on in the bookstore and decided to ask him about his reason for delving into the books that he chose. When the hell did that happen?
Something was amiss, Alois decided.
The choice of explanations he could give were many, but Alois found reason to keep the topic off of himself, so his own experiences in Other Ashdown would see very little mention in the conversation. „Something happened to me that I can’t explain,“ Alois replied at last, shifting his gaze back to the book in hand. „And it looks like I’m not the only one.“ He seized the paper from beneath his arm and held it outward toward the detective, its prominent headline proudly displayed across the front page. „It’s peculiar. I’m interested in the peculiar. I run a combination taxidermy and curiosity shop here. It’s in my business interests to get familiar with such things.
„To be honest with you, Herr Detektiv, I don’t see why this is of interest to you.“
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 8:18 pm
It happened when it coincided with the bookstore owner and the detective were friends but also a bit more than that. Jeremiah had had keys to Bibliophile since it first opened. After everything that had happened with the missing teens - what they had been interested in - both of them took note of people who started looking into the subjects Alois was. Jeremiah took the newspaper, scanned the title, and then flipped it a page to offer it back. MISSING DETECTIVE AND STUDENT FOUND The article covered the disappearance of Detective Lieutenant Jeremiah Mercer and Zac Bantock, in the aftermath of the other three missing teens, as well as that it was no longer considered part of the case. It was attributed to the fog but the story, for all that it was believed, was a little much. "... because the obvious answer is that you are not the only one who experienced something that happened to them they can't explain." Jeremiah's expression was still carefully neutral. "Also that in this particular case, the peculiar you are looking into, I've also looked into." He had also read through several of the books that been picked out and selected. Still he was not quite sure just how peculiar the man's experiences in front of him were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 8:31 pm
Alois accepted the paper from the man and scanned the title. Either the man himself went missing, or he knew the detective who did; suddenly Alois wished that badges also displayed names instead of numbers. The two were found, however, and the reveal of names meant that either one could be question if he found them. The detective was still the better bet for tracking down in a town such as this - especially if the one in front of him was that very man.
He might as well assume so, especially with that reply. „When I was visiting a graveyard with my dog,“ he started, leaning his shoulder against the bookcase as he spoke, „I got lost there. I’m not bad at directions, either. My dog didn’t come with me, which is very unusual for him. He just sat at the gate and watched me go in, and whined. It was raining in there, and the day was previously clear. Then I found about thirteen tombstones with my name on it, and a few with my dog’s name on it. Somehow this didn’t seem like a childish prank.“ Besides, he hadn’t been in Ashdown long enough to make that kind of enemy. Even if he did, he doubted they would go to such lengths.
„It took a park ranger to find me and get me out. He said it was a place called Other Ashdown. He said ‚spooky stuff‘ happens there, whatever that means. That you pass through liminal spaces sometimes. As strange as it all sounds, I doubt I’m going crazy.
„So, Detective No-Name, did you run into anything like that in your case investigation?“
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 11:04 pm
"Jeremiah Mercer, Detective Lieutenant with the Ashdown Police Department." The detective no-name was amusing to hear, just the barest hints of amusement clear in his eyes. Hearing Alois's story, on the other hand, was a little unnerving. It was in tune with too many things but that was kept carefully concealed as he went on to speak. "I have run into those things. I was, in fact, stuck there for a week. The constant rain gets a bit old after the first few hours." His head tilted just slightly, studying the young man in front of him. "Was it Finn Derouen who helped you out?" he inquired, shifting and his stance no longer as relaxed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 7:35 am
Ah, I see. Full-time detective, full-time missing persons celebrity. Fancy that.
„For a week? I didn’t see anything I would trust eating out there. You must have some survival skills, Mercer. Or, were the rest of the missing persons considered emergency rations by you and… What was it… Oh yes, Zac Bantock.“ He finished as he unrolled the newspaper for the article. „I can’t imagine any fire going with that rain, though. Must’ve eaten them raw. Law of the sea and all that.“
The humor, while never evident in his features, subsided when he returned to the question asked. „Yes, it was Finn Derouen. Am I to assume he makes a habit of pulling strangers out of Other Ashdown? If so, why only you two and not… However many others disappeared?
„And what else do you know about that place? As a detective, I imagine you’re quite adept at uncovering information where evidence is present.“ For as much as Other Ashdown is like a crime scene. Besides, I could be facing down Ashdown’s worst Detective Lieutenant, often relegated to bookstore surveillance and desk work. I don’t know head from a** on this guy’s reputation or abilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 12:56 am
If only Jeremiah was that kind of detective, his life would be a lot easier. "Actually the food on the other side tends to be very bland." If he had been inclined, he might have shuddered at the memory. He was not inclined, so he did not. "That and hunger did not really factor in. Time does not feel right there at all." There was a brief snort at the mention of other missing people and the implication they were eaten. "So long as you remember to bring an umbrella, everything works out well." Not entirely blatant sarcasm. "You're the only one I've heard of him pulling out. There are only three that are currently missing; the others that disappeared into the fog all returned." Jeremiah paused and straightened up, head turning to see if the new clerk was even paying attention. "If you want to talk about this, I would prefer to do so in the back." His head tilted towards the back of the store, where there was a break room. "As clearly you've got questions and it's likely that I can answer some of them." He paused. "Considering that the store owner lives with me, it's not a problem to take it over."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 1:21 am
“That’s something interesting,“ he replied, in a moment of rare candidness without his usual deadpan tone. He hadn’t noted a distinct change in time since being within Other Ashdown, but he didn’t take note of the time before entering, either. It must have a noticeable effect during prolonged stays, however, in the case of Jeremiah Mercer.
And then came the invitation to the back, to which Alois could not help but stifle a snicker. Ah, there it is. Come with the nice detective to the back of the store where no one’s looking. This sounds like the intro to a cheap smut film. „Fine, it’s your judgment call.“ He knew not whether Other Ashdown was safe to talk about with most denizens in earshot. Never one to invite strangers into conversation, however, he was naturally inclined against it. „I’m not keen on undue additions to conversation regardless,“ he finished, peering around the detective toward the clerk who patiently babysat the counter.
Inwardly he thanked his technical skills for preventing him from getting stuck with a job like that.
For a brief moment, he considered restacking his piles of books onto the shelves. He rather wanted them organized the way they were, however, since he had intention of buying some of them. Surely the detective wouldn’t mind. „Is it a dangerous topic?“ He asked, as he waited to follow the man to the back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 1:58 am
"There's nothing about it that is not dangerous in some way or another," Jeremiah replied, his attention flicking towards the clerk and then back to Alois. A hand was gestured towards the door before he was moving that direction after he was certain he was being followed. "It's because of the potential for eavesdropping and add-ons that we're taking over the break room. If necessary, we can go up to the second floor but-" A hand flipped in the air to say that it was likely not necessary as he paused at the clerk. "The break room is going to be closed off for a bit and I would appreciate," something about the way he said that word, "if you would not disturb us." There was a brief pause, Jeremiah's head tilting towards a customer that had been ignored in favor of paying attention to both Alois and himself. "You might want to actually help someone before Alg comes in for the day." That sent the clerk scrambling with a wide-eyed caught with his hand in the cookie jar look. The door to the break room was pushed open, Jeremiah holding the door for him. "I've not got your name yet."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:40 am
Wow, this is really starting to go the route of cliché porno, Alois thought to himself as he listened to Mercer drop a veiled threat. Am I going to find myself on the counter with my pants down, I wonder? Alois’ ongoing parallel of reality to B-rated smut film continued while following the detective to the back room. While entertaining, and certainly an impressive way to shed one’s virginity, he doubted it would ever come to pass.
But he only doubted, for improbability did not assure impossibility.
Alois’ attention returned to reality, however, when Mercer observed his lack of introduction. Curious hazel eyes peered down the literature row, home to Albert Camus and Alexandre Dumas and Denis Diderot. „You’re right, I didn’t.“ He paused, considered it, then offered a better introduction. „Alois Scholz. I own the taxidermy shop that recently opened here.“ He expected Mercer wasn’t the sort to frequent a shop dedicated to dead animals and strange curiosities, but he couldn’t tell much from the man just by looking at him. He certainly wouldn’t have guessed that Mercer roomed with an owner of a bookstore, which featured a delectable selection of literature. Perhaps Mercer himself was something of a bookworm.
When they reached the offered breakroom, Alois wasted little time in taking up standing room against a counter. Arms crossed in their usual fashion as he returned directly to the topic at hand. „So you say there’s still three missing in Other Ashdown, but the rest came back. What can you tell me about that? Did you make it back similarly to how Finn Derouen helped me? He said something about… Looking for breaks in the rain, or where reality doesn’t quite match up to expectation. Was that your clue as well, or is there something more to it?
„And what exactly is out there? I didn’t get the warmest feeling from the place, but I can’t say it’s anything more than ambience.“ Pausing, he fished in the pocket of his pants for a crinkling foil pack of gum. Out he popped one of the tan Nicorette pieces, which found his mouth shortly. „All I got from Derouen was that ‚spooky things happened‘ there.“
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2016 11:10 pm
"I cannot say that I've been there personally," Alois would have seen Jeremiah if he had stopped by, "but I did see the shop open up." Jeremiah was, if anything, definitely a bookworm but that was neither here nor there. The detective lieutenant was incredibly well-read but that likely had to do with the fact that most rooms in his house had some kind of bookshelf (or bookwall). The detective was clearly comfortable with the breakroom, going to the table and pulling a chair out to sit in. His shoulders rolled in a motion of someone that was far too used to trying to stretch them out to ease either muscles or some other pain. Alois asked a lot of questions, rapidly, but this was not exactly the first time and, if anything, raising Zac had prepared him for this kind of thing. "Finn's ability to find paths is different than my own. I only know of Finn and myself - of those that have been pulled into this - that can, with some ease, find ways in and out. I can see the places where you can cross over, they look different to my eyes." Not to anyone else, he had asked Algie a while back when they had been out and he'd noticed one. "As for what's out there? Can't say exactly. The place is a cage for something that does not need to get out and it doesn't like us for that matter."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 6:37 am
“That’s a useful trick.“ Alois wondered, briefly, if Other Ashdown exposure prompted the growth of magical abilities, like how radiation exposure prompted the growth of tumors. Would he himself come by strange skills if he poked around the otherworld long enough? Would it be safe to do so without a guide like Finn, or Jeremiah? He doubted it - the promise of getting lost indefinitely was great. Last time, he wandered for hours before Finn found him and pulled him out by a stroke of luck. Alois was disinclined to lose himself within its confines for exponentially longer than that.
And there was the consideration of time passing differently, like Jeremiah said before - what impact would that have on his shop and customerbase? He couldnn’t risk simply delving into Other Ashdown without a guide.
„Would you know anything about acquiring an ability like that? Finn had it sounding straightforward - just looking for breaks in the rain and then finding your way out. It must be a difficult task to spot a way in or out if you two have queer senses to bring you hither and thither. Or is that… like magical backwash? An unwanted gift from the Otherworld for passing through so much? Alois chewed thoughtfully as he waited for a response. The question of abilities was a heady one, one which held great promise of power and possibility, but he did not yet let his mind roam with the potential of it. So far, he heard of only the means to slip into and out of Other Ashdown more easily, and nothing about that talent claimed obvious presence of magic. He felt, momentarily, like a boy who just recently picked up the Dragonlance series, or Harry Potter. Was he so quick to buy into this mythos?
„I wonder why we’re able to get in and out, then.“ Jeremiah’s answer seeped with ominous implication. Whatever lurked in Other Ashdown, whether caged or not, received a decidedly negative association with those who visited the otherworld. But who would know anything about it? „What gives you the impression that it’s a cage? And why the animosity toward anything that may be barred there?“
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
