Welcome to Gaia! ::

René had been going over the books for the day and making sure things were ready for tomorrow when Alexandre came into his shop. Looking up, he smiled and put everything away. “I just finished up with the accounting bit, making sure things are ready to go for the morning and a few pick ups I have coming in. You’re rather perky after last night, sorry if I gave you a scare with the bingsu place.” It hadn’t really been much of an issue but Alexandre was a lot less easy going about things than René was.

Taking the espresso, he walked around the counter and hugged the small blond. “I hope your classes went well, thanks for the espresso. Today dragged on a bit, I was wondering when you might pop in.” Taking a sip, it felt really good to get some caffeine in his system after the day had been so very uneventful. There had really only been a few customers and most of them had to set up appointments for pick up because they needed to rent a truck or U-Haul to move things. With luck they would bring movers as well, René was still a bit sore after the past few weeks of things.

Leaning down, he kissed their cheek. “Well I’m alright, it’s okay. Just was a bit itchy was all.” Laughing a bit as he grabbed the keys off the counter and pulled the other along. “I got everything done, I just have to come in a little earlier before opening tomorrow for some pick ups so they can get a truck in before the street fills up with cars.”

“I’m glad classes went well though, it was so very boring without you here today.” Teasing a bit as he pulled them outside before turning off the lights and locking up. “So what’s the plan for tonight? I need to head home since it’s a work night but we can do something before I go? Maybe get dinner, since you already got my espresso?”

“That’ll be nice, I look forward to it. Just a few dressers and tables heading out in the morning with customers then it should just be walk-ins throughout the day. I don’t think I’ll be needing to do much of the moving if they bring movers with them too.”

Nodding, he followed the other along after shooting a look off towards his car to make sure there wasn’t a ticket on it. He had a parking pass but that meter maid was heartless if it wasn’t fully visible. “I wonder what you’re whisking me away for this time, are you sure there’s no hints?” Teasing them as he got into their car and settled in.

“Boo.” Huffing, he changed his tune as soon as the blindfold came over his eyes. “Oh.. I think I like this surprise already.” Clicking his piercing against his teeth as he reached over to trace his fingers over their thigh. “Well if it’s not far I’m excited to see what happens next.”

Leaning back in his seat, he wondered where they would be heading if it wasn’t far. There was a lot in the area though the other didn’t seem like the type to whisk him off to a hotel. They hadn’t seen his apartment yet either and he hoped to keep it that way for now so it wasn’t that, probably.

“I’ll be good, don’t want to end up in the dog house.” Smiling a bit, he held their hand instead and laced his fingers with theirs. It didn’t take long, just like they’d said and René waited for them to open the door. Laughing a bit, he wrapped an arm around their waist and moved in close.

“I can do that, I’m still curious what you’re planning.” Leaning his head on top of theirs, he let them lead to wherever they were taking him. It could be anywhere to be honest but the blindfold was an interesting touch, it wasn’t like he knew where anything was in the city still. There were only a handful of shops he had time to visit between working and dealing with the craziness that seemed to plague this city in winter.

That familiar smell, of paper and ink, hit him as they passed through the door of whatever place Alexandre had brought him. Opening his eyes as the blindfold came off, he looked around at rows and rows of books. Ahead, he could see stairs leading to an upper and lower floor as well. The bank card that was being offered didn’t register at first as the grandness of the store settled into him. Placing his hand on it, he pushed it back towards their wallet. “Hold onto it, I wouldn’t want to drop it or lose it. God… this is gorgeous Alexandre.”

Roaming through the aisles, he wanted to see everything the store had to offer before starting to grab things. This floor seemed to be things that were in regular circulation but he still looked to see how new the newest books were. Fingers tracing down a few things here and there, he kept glancing over to make sure he didn’t lose the other in his excitement. There was so much to see and once he’d circled the first floor, he started up the steps to the second.

"A very good one." Eyes wandered over shelf after shelf of older works, unlike the first floor this floor had older used books. Standing just at the landing, he only waited long enough for Alexandre to catch up before he continued pouring over the books. This floor went a lot slower and he already broke his rule about not grabbing things before seeing the whole store.

Tracing fingers over the worn and well-loved spines of the used books, René started to pull a few books here and there and tuck them under his arm. A few of them were in French but the majority of them were in English. Pausing here and there, his eyes continued scanning as his mind wandered to how much space he had on that shelf they'd purchased for him the other day.

After a few more rows, the problem started to become apparent, he didn't have enough hands to carry the things he wanted to get. Looking over the top of the shelves, René looked to see if there were baskets or anything of the like to help along with his issue. It didn't seem like there were any on this floor and he couldn't remember if there had been any on the ground floor either. So he made due by shuffling things around in his arms and slowed down a bit on what he was thinking of grabbing.

Peeking over at Alexandre occasionally, René wondered if they would grab anything for themselves. He'd never really seen them read anything, mostly just watch the TV or something on his computer. It got him wondering what kind of stories they liked as well, though the things they had told him were wild enough tales that he'd almost thought that they were lies until he'd experienced it himself.