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

[recluserose]

[BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Anyone who knows Amelia knows she's a bookworm. She loves collecting, exchanging, reading, analyzing, enjoying, studying... in short she really just really loves books whether they're classic novels from normal humans or the thick spell books she's grown up with. It's why she has her own library in her house after all.

So of course she couldn't resist the notion of a magic bookshop Adam mentioned to her in one of his messages. The notion of a bookshop she's never been to before with books she has yet to open is too tempting to ignore.

She enters inside with a book bag slung over her shoulder looking very curious indeed.]

[animated]

[ And today we find our intrepid shopkeeper on a ladder, shelving books. ]

Hello!

[recluserose]

Ah. Hello. [Must be the owner! Her friend mentioned him too and added that she might want to stay on his good side. Then again it was Adam who met him and she's certainly more careful about her actions.]

[Amelia immediately zips to a bookshelf- Adam told her that there were normal books as well. She doesn't discriminate and- oooh new mystery novel-- oooh a fantasy epic. Well, this sci-fi collection of short stories should do a good job for a lazy weekend--

Her pile is growing.]

[animated]

[ He laughs a little ] Book enthusiast, huh?

[recluserose]

[She nods]

I also teach AP Literature at a high school. I'm pretty much always reading.

[animated]

Aaah. I see. Is there anything in particular you're looking for?

[recluserose]

Well... Not exactly. I would just like to look around although...

[She sets her pile aside and digs around in her book bag. It's sort of weird how half of her arm looks like it disappears inside. Welp.]

[animated]

[ That so did not escape his notice ]

... Should I call you Mary Poppins?

[recluserose]

No, it's Amelia. Let's see-

[She stops for a moment to think though and then looks at Charlie.]

How long has this bookshop been around?

[animated]

Like thirty years. Why?

[recluserose]

I was just wondering. [She looks like she's thinking and coming to a conclusion, albeit a disappointing one.]

I suppose you wouldn't do exchanges?

[animated]

I guess that depends on what you have to offer me.

[recluserose]

[And as if on cue, she pulls out a rather aged black hardcover book and in the silvery lettered title says:

Shoot for the Stars: A Magical Compendium of Constellations and the Magical Uses of Starlight.

Amelia looks at him expectantly for his answer.]

[animated]

[ He legitimately stares for a moment, tentatively reaching out a hand ]

May I?

[recluserose]

[She nods and hands him the book.

The book cover may look old, but the browned and yellowing pages are even older. It's hard to tell what's preserving the paper, but characters inside seem to have a silvery sheen to them which makes them look crisp and easy to read.

As for the contents there are comparisons of scientific and historical origins of the constellations, but in magical terms there's the history of astrology and using the stars for divining-

Even MORE interesting however are the diagrams and methodology of catching a shooting star to capture its light or stardust, both which apparently are difficult and rare components to make certain magical items and a catalyst for certain spells.]

[animated]

[ He flips through the pages with the utmost care, like it will disintegrate if he's not careful enough ]

I don't... where did you get this?

[recluserose]

It's from my own library.

The instructions and techniques inside are limited to ones ability, but I thought it would be interesting to study such methods even if one is unable to perform them.

[animated]

Wow. You'd seriously offer this to me in exchange for something?

[recluserose]

It would be temporary. I wouldn't want to deprive you of any of your own books.

[animated]

I--- ah, hold on, hold on. I think we need introductions first. Amelia, right? I'm Charlie Maxwell.

[ he offers her a hand ]

[recluserose]

[She accepts and gives his hand a shake.]

Amelia Steinbeck. It's a pleasure.

[animated]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess, what with the enchanted bag and magic book, that you're no ordinary Literature teacher.

[recluserose]

Mm. Well, yes, you'd be right on the dot.

[animated]

So what are you, then?

[recluserose]

Hm.

Different.