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

[salamandher]

Yep. You should.

[She waits, folding her hands.]

So... what do you know about... something called a "Hidesbehind"?

[animated]

I know a thing or two. I assume you're looking for those missing hikers?

[salamandher]

You got it. And here I thought I was going to baffle you.

[animated]

Come on, Kara. You know me better than that.

[ He gives a short whistle and a four-legged step stool comes toddling around behind counter. He steps up on it and retrieves a well-worn leather volume from a top shelf. ]

[salamandher]

I do. That doesn't stop me from hoping.

[She shoots the stool a look -- that's just weird. No matter how many times it happens.]

[animated]

[ He catches that look, and raises an eyebrow ] Would you prefer I make it wag its tail and beg for treats instead?

[salamandher]

... Yeah no. I think I'm okay without another crazy dog thing in my life.

[animated]

[ He chuckles. ] I'm a little surprised Detective Randall isn't with you, actually.

[salamandher]

He's doing his own thing. I can take care of some things on my own.

[animated]

[ He sets the book on the counter, flipping through it ]

So, what do you want to know?

[salamandher]

How we find it, and/or off it. Either way.

[animated]

Short of you or your partner getting caught? They're pretty impossible to find.

[salamandher]

"Getting caught" generally equals getting our faces eaten off. So understand if I'm kind of against this whole... 'be bait' plan.

There's nothing else?

[animated]

Aah. Maybe you should buy it a drink.

[ He turns the book towards her and taps on a passage. Apparently these things hate alcohol enough for it to work as a repellant. ]

[salamandher]

[She has a sudden mental image of shaking up a beer can and spraying it in random directions, hoping it hits something scary.]

[But she leans forward to read it anyway.]

I guess that'd work. If the local parks department's fine with us spraying champagne and cheep beer everywhere.

[animated]

That's what I've got.

[salamandher]

Nothing else? Like how you lure them out?

[animated]

No one's ever even seen one, let alone caught one.

[salamandher]

... Awesome. Because that totally bodes well.

[animated]

If an elemental and a Randall wizard can't do it, then I think we're all pretty much doomed.

[salamandher]

Doomed. From a Hidesbehind? Seriously?

[animated]

If you can't get rid of it, clearly this is no ordinary Hidesbehind.

[salamandher]

We can't really get rid of it if we can't find it.

[animated]

Can't the, um, what was his name? Can't Fedora find it?

[salamandher]

Maybe? Worth a shot, I guess.