Books! In every cranny and all the nooks.

[animated]

[ Bookstores are always interesting places, though this one is perhaps a bit moreso than most. Large, towering bookshelves stuffed with well-worn paperbacks, stacks of books in corners when they simply won't fit anywhere else. The forefront of the store actually features a pretty decent comic book section, making it an ideal place for crowds of teenage boys after school lets out. (The wouldn't dare visit during school hours if they were ditching, since the owner's been known to rat them out.)

Speaking of the owner, he's a little on the scrawny side, but not uneasy on the eyes. Making this a spot for teenaged girls as well, if only so they can giggle amongst each other and steal glances at the blond behind the counter.

But, being as it's the middle of the day on a weekday no less, said blond is tidying things up. He's got a rag and some Windex, and he's cleaning a large glass case in one corner of the shop. ]

Comments

[imperviously]

It's nice to meet you sir. [Offering a hand. He is a polite and he figures if this guy is magic it means he's OLD.

So that means be respectful.

Even if it is kind of awkward.]

[animated]

Don't call me sir. [ He ignores that offered hand- he doesn't like being barged in on like that. ]

Was there something you wanted?

[imperviously]

[This happens a lot :( Putting his hands on his pockets and giving another once over to the store.]

Nothing in particular, unless you have a collection of information about magical creatures. [But that's what Amelia is for! Her library rivals that of other places.

He walks around and stops. There's something... familiar in the air.]

... Was a girl here before me by any chance?

[animated]

Nothing that's for sale.

[ He raises an eyebrow. ]

We're right by the high school. I get a lot of girls in here.

[imperviously]

Dark hair, red lipstick, grey eyes.

She most likely made a pass at you.

[animated]

Ah, yes. The succubus.

[imperviously]

... Shit.

[animated]

She didn't cause any trouble, if that's what you were worried about. I think I'm a bit... resistant to her charms.

[imperviously]

That so? Hope she didn't give you any deep scratches then.

I'm trying to avoid her actually. I thought I threw her off my trail.

[animated]

Date go wrong?

[imperviously]

Worse.

She likes me.

[animated]

[ that get a laugh out of him ] You poor thing.

[imperviously]

Tell me about it.

In any case, sorry you had to meet her. She's relentless.

[animated]

I think I deterred her well enough.

[imperviously]

That's good. You probably won't get stalked by her then.

[animated]

Getting stalked by a succubus isn't real high on my "to do" list.

[imperviously]

It's not a particularly high priority for anyone.

[animated]

So, what brings you here? If not me specifically.

[imperviously]

I'm looking into a few mirrors that might be cursed. Well, not so much that as the curse is skipping around mirrors and taking victims that way.

[animated]

Sooo it's... sucking them in, or-?

[imperviously]

I thought so too at first. But I think it actually uses mirrors as a springboard to jump out at its victims, but it can't leave unless there's solid eye contact.

[animated]

What happens to the victims, then?

[imperviously]

Well, they can fight it off if they're lucky enough and get away with a few scars. It puts up a hell of a fight though and I'm sure there has been a victim or two so far.

I asked what the man who hired me what the curse looked like, but poor bastard wouldn't tell me. Kept his lips shut tight.

[animated]

That sounds pretty nasty. Mirrors are old school, too- not quite up my alley, but close.

[ He gives a short whistle and s step stool comes toddling out of a corner somewhere to join him behind the counter.

There's a shelf of big, old leather-bound volumes back there, which is where he goes looking. ]

[imperviously]

[Huh. Definitely blinking at the animated stool and then back at Charlie as he hits the books. Very interesting magic :|a]