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 Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 12:54 pm
One of the few credits that Algie would give to the town of Ashdown was that the weather agreed with him. While summer came bearing hard on most of the country, it was a comfortable breezy time in the town as visitors finally were filtering in to enjoy the beach and breezes. The college wasn't compltely shut down with the semester over, but it was much quieter around campus and the surrounding businesses. The owner of Bibliophile had most of the busy work finished and sat at one of the study tables instead of the counter with his small leather notebook out, a couple books of research material, and a broad hand rubbing his forehead as he worked on what should be an upcoming book. Violetta, as usual, stretched in the window sunning herself with a pleasant blanket of flowered moss under her body and a continual, loud purr. Alg's phone dinged, smiling a bit to himself at whatever it was, and tapped out an answer as quickly as proper spelling and grammar in texts would allow.
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 7:52 pm
Renard didn't like dealing with people. There was a reason he had chosen to work as a conservator-restorer: he could keep people at arm's length, could choose when to go elsewhere and offer his prodigious skills. Still, sometimes there was a need to go somewhere like a bookstore to find reference materials. And for that, he'd decided to finally scout out Bibliophile. (His favorite bookseller had recently closed: unfortunate, unavoidable.) The shelves seemed nicely organized, if a bit lacking. That cat, however… Renard frowned at it impressively before continuing his walk towards where the art books should be.
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Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 9:46 pm
Violetta, upon seeing the man who entered, puffed up slightly and hissed. It was a near unseen act for her, enough to garner Algie's attention if the dinging of the bell hadn't already. He glanced up to see a man walking through with intent, slightly quicker than he could rise to meet him from where he was sitting. Alg called, "Ah- Can I help you sir?" Shuffling himself to his feet to make his way to help the customer. It was his job after all.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 1:52 am
So much for his desire to squeak by unnoticed. But then, that'd been rare, his whole life it'd been rare: one didn't live as a tall black man without attracting attention. "Yes," said Renard, because at least if he had to interact with people then he was going to interact to his benefit. "I hear you do some trade in used books. I'm looking for a particular one that escaped me at a recent estate sale. Have you a copy of Homes of the North Shore: 1910-1940?" It was a new edition. He needed to add it to his bookshelves.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 5:29 am
He'd of course be a horrible salesperson to not offer help to the customers. Of course tall, well dressed, good looking customers were generally also hard to ignore. This man was just enough of all of those things to make Alg self consciously straighten his cufflinks and jacket (mostly because he always managed to feel like a dumpy mess besides people who were too well put together). "I may in fact." His store did have a habit of turning up unexpected things, "And likely some things from that estate sale ended up here. Unfortunately few are true collectors and just looking to, ah, make a buck." Alg motioned in the proper direction before tucking his hands into his jacket pockets and walking there. He wasn't sure what he thought about someone that Violetta instinctively didn't like and as they moved he heard her paws hitting the floor heavily. It was almost unheard of for her to stalk anything but she seemed to be following them from a safe distance. "I'm Professor Mixlin," He introduced himself, manners always a necessity, and offered a hand, "I own the store."
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 9:26 am
Renard looked at Algernon's hand like it was a venomous snake. He said, "I apologize, but I don't shake hands," somehow managing to not sound very sorry at all. Renard had the look of a person who managed to not touch anybody. Ever. A germaphobe. Fastidious. There were a lot of words for the way Renard looked. Almost none of them were complimentary. "It is, nevertheless, a pleasure to meet you. Renard Leroux." He didn't hold out a hand. "I am the conservator of the Shore Estate." Did he need to explain any further? The damn thing was everywhere. He should know: he took care of it. "It is a tragedy that no one who would care for the book has acquired it," zing! "but if you would be so kind as to see if it's among your recent acquisitions, I would appreciate it."
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:25 am
Alg's brows lifted but he dropped his hand. Germophobe. Lovely. "Ah, Mister Leroux I believe my partner's son visited the house not long ago. Zac. He tells me you and your husband have quite the art collection." Algie had been warned against the artist, not the art, not that he listened much to Sunny these days. "A shame the book poachers have a bit more drive than the collectors," His smile was pleasant and static, "Feel free to browse this section. We have new and used, all marked and categorized appropriately. I'll be back in a moment." Violetta was peering with narrow eyes from around the corned of a far shelf, a dangeous eyed white loaf.
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Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 11:29 am
"Ah, yes. The trespasser." Renard had started off this conversation in fine form, and he continued to raise the bar for sarcasm and back-handed compliments. Passive-aggressive? Yes, he was! There were none better than he. "We do collect. The collection, however, is private. Perhaps your partner ought to teach his child to better respect the personal space of others." Renard gave Violetta an arch look, and turned his attention towards the books. Most of them were already in his collection, but why not browse?
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Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2016 11:55 am
"I'm sure he only mentioned those on display but- Once they leave the house I'm not sure Jeremiah's got much say anymore. Excuse me," Alg nodded politely before stepping to check the stock. First he went to the computer, typing something in, then stepped away to move to the back and look through what was brought in as trades. As if some cosmic joke he found a book on top, Coping with Difficult People: The Proven-Effective Battle Plan That Has Helped Millions Deal with the Troublemakers in Their Lives at Home and at Work by Robert M. Abrahamson Ph.D. Alg pursed his lips at the box, then up at the ceiling as if some greater Ashdown diety were ******** with him, before he fished deeper. He wasn't sure if it was his unique skill, or if perhaps the book had truly been brought in, but he did seem to have it in the very bottom of the box (after passing the Self Esteem Workbook and something called Killer Collectors). He returned to the other, book in hand, "I do seem to have what you're looking for."
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 10:20 pm
Renard brightened considerably once he saw the book in Algernon's hand. "Thank you," he said, holding out a hand for the book. "May I?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 7:29 am
The urge was strong to offer the book out then yank it back. Yes he was a child inside when it came to unpleasant people. "It's all yours." Alg set the volume into the other's hands, watched him for a moment, and stepped back. "Anything else I can help you find?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:02 am
Renard didn't seem to notice the additional scrutiny. He opened the book carefully, long and elegant fingers spreading to support its heaviness. "No, this will be all, thank you," he said, already distracted by the old photos of architectural noteworthies. "How much?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 12:16 pm
"It hasn't been logged into stock yet, so I'll just need a moment." Alg probably could have quoted him off the top of his head but by doing it properly he could make the other man wait around. He moved to the computer, tapped some things in, and glanced up at the other. "Is it a lot of work maintaining that house?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 12:22 pm
Renard frowned. "Not truly," he said. "I do the work myself, as the furniture is delicate... The most difficult part is keeping the tchotchkes dusted. There's a small orrery in the study that's very easy to displace." He looked about the shop, not leaving the counter. "Is it difficult to keep this place in order? I imagine many more people come in with intent to touch things than at the estate."
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 4:54 pm
"A bit but I have a staff," Alg was back glancing at the computer, "And it's generally worse at the beginning or end of a semester. Mostly reorganizing a lot of shelves and putting things back where they are haphazardly left." He'd found the book, checked it into the system, and now was assessing a price for himself. "It's hard to complain about too many hands when we essentially want as much business as possible."
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