Ye Olde S33k & Finde

[fr33ks33k]

*The old oak door swings open, seemingly of its own accord, and he strides in with a sad smile on his face. It's been too long again, and even the mechanized animals have forsaken him. For now, the shop is quiet, empty, dusty, and dark. He moves to the counter, spying the stacks of mail. Most is junk, but a few are from a mysterious sender. The addresses are written in meticulous script, and each letter details a meeting that is to take place in a familiar location. The date of the meeting keeps changing, likely due to his extended absence. As he sits and reads, the clockwork creatures begin to file in, tinny growls and hoots heralding his return. They clamber up and onto the counter top, pausing to watch him.*

Well hello there, friends. I'm sorry I've been away so long. It's good to see this place can still take care of itself.

*With more raucous noises, they crowd around to read the letters he's finished. The sight is more than comical, these imitations of life acting so sentient. There is a bit of charm in it as well, though. He finishes the final letter and sets it aside, standing and stretching with arms held aloft. Without a word he heads off into the stacks. A particularly large bird flaps it's metal wings and follows him, letting out a single squawk.*

I wonder what's managed to find its way in here this time....I can almost hear it calling to me...

 

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpts from a book left by the counter

I'm the man who wants to have his cake and eat it too. The one who's eyes may wander, but who's heart is always true. The man who uses words as weapons, power, tools. I'm the one who wears the falsest crown, the blinded king of fools. I'm the man who wants it all and wants for nothing all the same. I'm the one who hungers for the breathy whispers of a lover in my name.*I'm the man who constantly remembers love, but can't forget his lust. I'm the man who finds the wiggle room between deceptiveness and trust. Above all, I'm not the man. I'm just a man.

------------------

When your heart's a raging fire, immolation's only a stiff breeze from reality. But so is the bitter cold of an ember snuffed out before its had a chance to spark.*

When your heart's a clockwork flower, spring's always around the corner. But so is the gear-freezing winter that threatens even the hardiest of mechanisms.*

When your heart is nothing more than what it's supposed to be, love's right there on the horizon. And nothing can take that vision from your sight.*

 

[fr33ks33k]

*With the robotic bird flapping noisily at his side, he continues to wander into the depths of the shop. Each turn seems purposeful, but in truth his path is random. Eventually, he arrives at one of the rare sections that actually shows the physical boundaries of the place.

In this section, the stacks are nearly barren. A few knickknacks, old tomes and and journals. Nothing particularly enticing, but nothing too uninteresting. The most notable feature of this area is a large bronze door, decorated with filigree and ornate figures in dramatic poses. His hands trace the lines and contours, searching for the handle. As he takes hold, he realizes the extreme quiet. The mechanical bird perches on his shoulder, cocking it's head to the side and cawing once.*

Is...is that the ocean?

*As the door sweeps open he steps into the flood of light from what lies beyond. It is onto a grassy dune that his feet rest, and after his eyes adjust, he recognizes where the door has led him. A smile curves his lips and he heads off down the well traveled path, the metal bird squawking the whole time.*

 

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpt from a scroll in a jade scroll tube. Row 4, Bottom Shelf.

She sits in edifice atop a soaring skyscraper. Not a gargoyle, nor an angel. Not a monolith nor guardian. She is cast in stone and yet within there is great light. Her meditation is not muddied by wind nor rain nor snow. There is ne'er a moment when her focus is not absolutely whole. She seems to seek enlightenment, or perhaps transcendence, and in time she will succeed. For even now, as she rests upon her pedestal, cracks of luminescence break her marble form. And once the plaster peels away, she will be reborn. A being of pure illumination, light untainted. Though even then she will not rise, will not cast her presence on the world. She will remain here, waiting for the next nirvana to occur.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*Amidst one large atrium, there are rows and rows of weapons. All sorts, exotic to mundane. Some are crudely designed and others are crafted with mastery unknown in most parts of the world. He smiles as he steps into the painted circle at the very center of the room. The Oni mask he was wearing at Sev's ball is once again half-cocked on his head, sneering with its sightless eye-holes.

His choice in weaponry is easy. The katana almost calls to him in its ornate ebony sheath. The length of it is decorated with kanji; a jutsu of some form or another. Its meaning becomes clear when he draws the blade from its nest. The symbols ignite in a fiery red glow that deepens and begins to pulse with something that is quite life-like in rhythm. The metal of the sword is brilliant, unmarred by time or use. One swing and he can't help but grin.

The scabbard is tucked into his belt and both hands go to the handle of the sword, moving easily around the circle, slashing and arcing as his feet lift and fall in the traditional two-step. On one wide swath, he catches something moving at the corner of his vision. Its his old mechanical bird companion. It chirps and lands on the very edge of the blade, perched there as though it had not a worry in the world.*

Well hello there! Have you come to spar? I fear I may be at a drastic advantage...but if you insist...

*The blade moves quickly, almost too quickly for the bird to unseat itself, but it manages to flap into the air, flitting back and forth, chirping in what he takes to be a mocking tone. He strikes out at the bird, always narrowly missing its wingtips or its beak with the cutting edge.

Soon a sheen of sweat has broken out on his brow and arms. He pauses a moment and the bird lands again on the sword. He smirks and shakes the katana from side to side, the bird remaining unmoved*

Very well then, you win. Shall we go see what fun junk mail has arrived in my absence?

*The bird chirps happily and flies up to allow him to return the sword to its home in the ebony sheath. The kanji continues to pulse even after he sets the sword back where he retrieved it from. In fact, the beating grows more rapid as his hand withdraws.

One brow rises in confusion, but surely enough, when he grasps the sheath again, the pulsating returns to a slow, steady beat.*

Hmmm....I suppose you'll be wanting to join me then. I don't see what harm it could cause...

*And so he heads back to the main lobby, sword in one hand, bird perched on his opposite shoulder, smiling and wiping the sweat from his brow*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Around to the back of Fr33k's shoppe crept a figure dressed leather. Where was the back door to this place? What shop didn't have a back door? Soft cursing ensued before the figure slipped away again.

A new plan was needed now.

What freaking place didn't have a back damn door????!!!

Only Fr33k.

*sigh*

 

[fr33ks33k]

*The mechanized bird swooped down from its perch in one of the rafters, rad cocking to the side as it landed on the large front counter. A noise had startled it, but the source was indiscernable. After hopping about, the bird took flight again, flapping off in the direction it had last seen him wander off in, squawking the whole way.

Once it finally found him, it chirped a warning in high tinny notes*

A cat burglar? That seems strange, given the locale. Yes, yes I believe you. Well I suppose we'll have to be more wary. Now come along, there's something new back here. I can feel it...

*Without further mention, they continued down the aisle, the bird still tilting it's head as though listening for the ghosts of sound*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

.....A cat burglar? That seems strange, given the locale. Yes, yes I believe you. Well I suppose we'll have to be more wary. Now come along, there's something new back here. I can feel it...

(a cat burglar... *snickers* You crack me up, Fr33k )

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Under the cover of night, she slid to the front of his store. One hand tested the knob and found it locked. Now the question was, did he have the shoppe warded in some way? Dressed in black from head to toe, with a black stocking knit cap to hide all her red locks, she reached into her back pocket and drew out a card, sliding it between the door proper and the frame, tweaking it here and there. Hopefully this worked. She really, really needed to get her phone book back before those tin critters of his deciphered it.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*The door itself was not magical. The frame that surrounded it, however, lit up with symbols both arcane and archaic as she slid her card in between the wood surfaces. The light ebbed and the door lock clicked. As if beckoning her to enter, the door swing open on creaking hinges.

The majority of the robotic animals weren't present, but the tin bird, which could be a falcon or a sparrow stood perched on the front desk. It tilted it's head as it saw her and squawked a greeting. Or was it a warning?*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*The door itself was not magical. The frame that surrounded it, however, lit up with symbols both arcane and archaic as she slid her card in between the wood surfaces. The light ebbed and the door lock clicked. As if beckoning her to enter, the door swing open on creaking hinges.

The majority of the robotic animals weren't present, but the tin bird, which could be a falcon or a sparrow stood perched on the front desk. It tilted it's head as it saw her and squawked a greeting. Or was it a warning?*

"Holy mother of atm machines," she exclaimed in a soft whisper as the door frame lit up like a Christmas bulb. She jumped back slightly, blinked and stared again. The light had ebbed and the door swung open. Cautiously, she tread closer, settling for poking her head into the interior for the moment. The only thing that moved, and gave her the creeps when it did, was the tin bird on the front desk.

"Dont make me duct tape your beak, bird. Now where in hell is my phone book?"

She was talking to a robotic bird, for crying outloud. But she knew about this place. It was full of strange and fascinating things. She inched closer to the door frame.

 

[fr33ks33k]

"Holy mother of atm machines," she exclaimed in a soft whisper as the door frame lit up like a Christmas bulb. She jumped back slightly, blinked and stared again. The light had ebbed and the door swung open. Cautiously, she tread closer, settling for poking her head into the interior for the moment. The only thing that moved, and gave her the creeps when it did, was the tin bird on the front desk.

"Dont make me duct tape your beak, bird. Now where in hell is my phone book?"

She was talking to a robotic bird, for crying outloud. But she knew about this place. It was full of strange and fascinating things. She inched closer to the door frame.

*In response to her comment, the bird cried again, angrily this time. With a few flaps of its metal wings, it lifted into the air, hovering above the counter top before flying over to the door. It latched onto the frame, turning its head to the side again as it looked her over. Once more it called, the tinny sound echoing into the cavernous space.*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*In response to her comment, the bird cried again, angrily this time. With a few flaps of its metal wings, it lifted into the air, hovering above the counter top before flying over to the door. It latched onto the frame, turning its head to the side again as it looked her over. Once more it called, the tinny sound echoing into the cavernous space.*

"Now stop that! Come 'ere you."

Her head twisted about as her eyes scanned the dark interior. Her voice, a harsh whisper as she made to snatch at the bird. She had to jump up just a bit as she did so. Damn it was a pain to be so bloody short. She was more than ready to clamp a hand over its beak if it made another sound. She couldn't have the thing alerting ---- that thought halted. Did Fr33k live in the shop somewhere?

 

[fr33ks33k]

"Now stop that! Come 'ere you."

Her head twisted about as her eyes scanned the dark interior. Her voice, a harsh whisper as she made to snatch at the bird. She had to jump up just a bit as she did so. Damn it was a pain to be so bloody short. She was more than ready to clamp a hand over its beak if it made another sound. She couldn't have the thing alerting ---- that thought halted. Did Fr33k live in the shop somewhere?

Oh for Heaven's sake!

*He finally cast aside his sheets and blanket as the squawking continued. He loved those animals, but damn it all if they couldn't be quiet while he slept. The room he was in had no doors. He stood in nothing but gym shorts, his usual sleeping attire. He stepped sideways...and suddenly stood in one of the aisles in the shop. In the darkness, his eyes slowly adjusted and saw the illumination spilling in from the skylights throughout.*

-------------------------

*The bird clambered higher on the doorframe as the woman tried to pull it down from its perch. It squawked again, flapped it's wings in warning and snapped its beak at her. By now, more of the mechanized beasts had appeared; wolves and bears and lions and more formidable looking creatures. They would be intimidating if the weren't miniatures. They crowded around the door, letting out noises of their own.

If she had thought the bird alone was noisy, she surely had her hands full now.*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Oh for Heaven's sake!

*He finally cast aside his sheets and blanket as the squawking continued. He loved those animals, but damn it all if they couldn't be quiet while he slept. The room he was in had no doors. He stood in nothing but gym shorts, his usual sleeping attire. He stepped sideways...and suddenly stood in one of the aisles in the shop. In the darkness, his eyes slowly adjusted and saw the illumination spilling in from the skylights throughout.*

-------------------------

*The bird clambered higher on the doorframe as the woman tried to pull it down from its perch. It squawked again, flapped it's wings in warning and snapped its beak at her. By now, more of the mechanized beasts had appeared; wolves and bears and lions and more formidable looking creatures. They would be intimidating if the weren't miniatures. They crowded around the door, letting out noises of their own.

If she had thought the bird alone was noisy, she surely had her hands full now.*

With her back to the darkened interior she doesn't notice anything, besides her focus is on the crazy tin bird that just.... she narrowed her eyes. Did it just snap at her? Oh, that so did it. Leaping up again, she snagged the blasted thing and had just wrapped her fingers around its beak. She held it up to eye level, still glaring.

"Damn silly bird, I told you what was going to happen. Whatcha going to do now? Huh? Huh?"

About that time, she realized she wasn't alone and critters, more of them, appeared at her feet, surrounding her. Oh, for crying outloud! Hastily, she shoved the bird into the back pocket of her pants, beak first and because the material was so tight on her, it served to hold the beak closed. Leaning down she began to scoop up the miniatures and started stuffing them wherever she could, down her shirt, between her breasts, in her front pant's pockets, sometimes two or three, depending on how much room she had.

"Shhhh! Hush now. We don't want to wake up Fr33k."

In her previous visits to the S33k & Finde, she never noticed any other doors in the place, just long darkened isles but it was a good bet he lived here, maybe somewhere above or maybe below? Somewhere. Who knew in this crazy place.

 

[fr33ks33k]

With her back to the darkened interior she doesn't notice anything, besides her focus is on the crazy tin bird that just.... she narrowed her eyes. Did it just snap at her? Oh, that so did it. Leaping up again, she snagged the blasted thing and had just wrapped her fingers around its beak. She held it up to eye level, still glaring.

"Damn silly bird, I told you what was going to happen. Whatcha going to do now? Huh? Huh?"

About that time, she realized she wasn't alone and critters, more of them, appeared at her feet, surrounding her. Oh, for crying outloud! Hastily, she shoved the bird into the back pocket of her pants, beak first and because the material was so tight on her, it served to hold the beak closed. Leaning down she began to scoop up the miniatures and started stuffing them wherever she could, down her shirt, between her breasts, in her front pant's pockets, sometimes two or three, depending on how much room she had.

"Shhhh! Hush now. We don't want to wake up Fr33k."

In her previous visits to the S33k & Finde, she never noticed any other doors in the place, just long darkened isles but it was a good bet he lived here, maybe somewhere above or maybe below? Somewhere. Who knew in this crazy place.

*He meandered out of the shadows, leaning against the oak counter that served as the register. He was still waking up, but this sight was too hilarious to be a dream. A woman in a tight leather bodysuit, stuffing his mechanical companions into various pockets, even down into the cleavage the front of her suit showed off.

He cleared his throat loud enough to be heard even over the muffled cries of the animals as they got shoved around.*

You know, those are probably the only things in this store not for sale. Mind telling me who you are and what you're doing here?

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*He meandered out of the shadows, leaning against the oak counter that served as the register. He was still waking up, but this sight was too hilarious to be a dream. A woman in a tight leather bodysuit, stuffing his mechanical companions into various pockets, even down into the cleavage the front of her suit showed off.

He cleared his throat loud enough to be heard even over the muffled cries of the animals as they got shoved around.*

You know, those are probably the only things in this store not for sale. Mind telling me who you are and what you're doing here?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

She went stock still at the sound of his voice. And then swallowed. She was in the midst of cramming the last tin animal into her front pocket when he showed up. He was the last person she had wanted to run into. Now what?

Think, Cait! Think. Quickly.

She eyed the door. Could she do it? Get out of the open door before he stopped her? Would he call the police even? She did have his possessions crammed into her clothing. Her shoulders slumped. The jig was up and she wanted to kick something. Anything. Slowly she turned around to face him, still staring at the ground. One hand reached up to tug off the knit cap. As she did so, her hair fell in a mass riot of red around her shoulders. She lifted her head, a defiant look in her green eyes.

"Um... um.... I came to steal back my phone book."

 

[fr33ks33k]

*He'd had a feeling she'd come for her book. It was a bit hypocritical to call her out on theft, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. He pushed off the counter and gestured upward, the lights coming on in the atrium.*

Well I suppose I should have expected you to want it back. If you wouldn't mind releasing my friends, I'll give you your book back.

*He had no pockets, but still he reached as though there was a space for one on his shorts. When his hand rose, it was holding the book in question.*

Quite an interesting collection. Wouldn't expect some of that from you, Cait. But a girl's gotta have her secrets I suppose. Don't worry, I didn't have them make me a copy.

*He chuckled, hefting the book as though trying to determine its weight*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*He'd had a feeling she'd come for her book. It was a bit hypocritical to call her out on theft, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. He pushed off the counter and gestured upward, the lights coming on in the atrium.*

Well I suppose I should have expected you to want it back. If you wouldn't mind releasing my friends, I'll give you your book back.

*He had no pockets, but still he reached as though there was a space for one on his shorts. When his hand rose, it was holding the book in question.*

Quite an interesting collection. Wouldn't expect some of that from you, Cait. But a girl's gotta have her secrets I suppose. Don't worry, I didn't have them make me a copy.

*He chuckled, hefting the book as though trying to determine its weight*

Her head slanted slightly to one side as she watched him, eyes then following his gesture as he pointed upward. She didn't recall seeing any staircases leading upward, but then, she really hadn't explored the shoppe much.

As Fr33k spoke again, her eyes fell upon him and the phone book he seemingly pulled out of thin air. Her special book. Her brow rose slightly just before she gave a little shrug, her lips quirking into an amused grin.

"There's a lot of things you still don't know about me, Fr33k."

She began to remove his companions from her bra first, setting them on a nearby counter.

"If you didn't have them make you copy why did you steal it to begin with?"

Her curiosity got the better of her. She started to pull the animals from her front pockets next and finally the ones she had shoved into the back pockets. The bird was last. She held him by the beak since the cheeky little bugger tried to peck her earlier.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*He watched with a fair amount of amusement as the creatures righted themselves and milled about on the secondary counter. She was particularly brash with the bird, poor thing. It flapped and pulled to try and remove itself from her grip to no avail.*

So it would seem. Maybe I'll learn about them...all in due time, of course. I have no need for a copy. The knowledge within has already been gleaned. Quite a tough code to crack, I might add.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*He watched with a fair amount of amusement as the creatures righted themselves and milled about on the secondary counter. She was particularly brash with the bird, poor thing. It flapped and pulled to try and remove itself from her grip to no avail.*

So it would seem. Maybe I'll learn about them...all in due time, of course. I have no need for a copy. The knowledge within has already been gleaned. Quite a tough code to crack, I might add.

She wrinkled her nose at him (or was it at that damn bird?) and set the creature on the counter as well, wiping her hands on her thighs after she had done so. She reached for the book.

"Thank you. I'm rather proud of it myself and just what do you plan to do with the, um, gleaned information if I might inquire?"

 

[fr33ks33k]

She wrinkled her nose at him (or was it at that damn bird?) and set the creature on the counter as well, wiping her hands on her thighs after she had done so. She reached for the book.

"Thank you. I'm rather proud of it myself and just what do you plan to do with the, um, gleaned information if I might inquire?"

*The bird preened and straightened out its metal feathers, squawking once more at her. Meanwhile, he handed over her book, their fingers touching briefly. He smiled and let both hands hang at his sides, shrugging nonchalantly*

I plan on using it to my advantage. I also plan on incorporating it into some new security measures...not that this place needs any help protecting itself...just might be handy for paperwork and the like.

*He had purposefully been vague about his "advantage". His lips curled into a coy smirk*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*The bird preened and straightened out its metal feathers, squawking once more at her. Meanwhile, he handed over her book, their fingers touching briefly. He smiled and let both hands hang at his sides, shrugging nonchalantly*

I plan on using it to my advantage. I also plan on incorporating it into some new security measures...not that this place needs any help protecting itself...just might be handy for paperwork and the like.

*He had purposefully been vague about his "advantage". His lips curled into a coy smirk*

She tucked the book safely down the front of her top and continued to listen to him speak.

"Your advantage, huh?"

That made her mind whirl. She knew what was in the book... how the hell was he.... no, this was Fr33k, anything was possible. She simply did not care for him having any sort of advantage.

"Right-o, then. I'll be on my way," she lightly tapped her chest, " and thank you, for returning this. If SB got his hands on it... well, that would have simply been a disaster. As you can imagine, the information in this book, in the wrong hands...." she simply shook her head and turned to go.

 

[fr33ks33k]

She tucked the book safely down the front of her top and continued to listen to him speak.

"Your advantage, huh?"

That made her mind whirl. She knew what was in the book... how the hell was he.... no, this was Fr33k, anything was possible. She simply did not care for him having any sort of advantage.

"Right-o, then. I'll be on my way," she lightly tapped her chest, " and thank you, for returning this. If SB got his hands on it... well, that would have simply been a disaster. As you can imagine, the information in this book, in the wrong hands...." she simply shook her head and turned to go.

Yes.

*A simple response, one that was full of the ambiguity that made him smile wider. She didn't like it, but couldn't do anything. Yet.

As she turned to leave he spoke once more.*

The wrong hands....I suppose that all depends on your views of right and wrong...Two sides to every coin, right Cait?

*In a seemingly coincidental motion, he began flipping a large coin. It was too big to be a quarter, even larger than a fifty-cent piece. It wasn't golden, but it still shined in the light as it turned end over end before landing in his palm. Once it had come to rest, he flipped it again, thumb flicking it with a metallic tang*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Yes.

*A simple response, one that was full of the ambiguity that made him smile wider. She didn't like it, but couldn't do anything. Yet.

As she turned to leave he spoke once more.*

The wrong hands....I suppose that all depends on your views of right and wrong...Two sides to every coin, right Cait?

*In a seemingly coincidental motion, he began flipping a large coin. It was too big to be a quarter, even larger than a fifty-cent piece. It wasn't golden, but it still shined in the light as it turned end over end before landing in his palm. Once it had come to rest, he flipped it again, thumb flicking it with a metallic tang*

She paused, looking over her shoulder at him and smiled, watching the coin flip.

"Always two sides to every coin, Fr33k."

A small smile flickered across her lips. There was a look in her eyes that was undefinable and thoughtful as she took her leave.

With Fr33k, one just never knew what side he fell on, if he did at all.