Ye Olde S33k & Finde

[fr33ks33k]

(That particular bow, my dear, does exactly that. Arrows of energy. I was simply attempting to keep myself involved)

 

[Aurantica]

(okay then...)
Ellie leaped back as the bow sent a bundle of white light crashing into a tapestry at the far end of the shop. She quickly set it down, heart pounding. Then she turned and ran blindly towards the entrance, hoping to miss the man who was surely on his way by now. There was no way she could pay for the damage she had done. She whipped in and out of stacks of books, thankful that she chose to wear runners that day.
Then again, if I wore runners, I wouldn't be here right now she thought, then banished the idea from her head and sprinted on.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*The sound of footfalls grew louder as he reached the bow, set away from its proper placement. He stared at the hole blasted in a stitched tapestry at the far end of the aisle, shaking his head and making his way back toward the lobby. That Nellie girl sure seemed to be a source of trouble...*

 

[Aurantica]

Ellie wove in and out of stacks, cursing herself for even touching the bow. As she passed a bookshelf topped with a stuffed loin's head, she saw a flash of grey, the sleeve of the man's sweater. He was headed the opposite way. As she ran, Ellie thought about the bow. Who would make a bow that shoots light? she thought And why?

 

[fr33ks33k]

*Once he'd returned to the lobby, he saw no signs of the girl. Faint footfalls could be heard if one listened closely, but he decided that if she wanted help, she'd come find it. He went back to his work at the counter, assembling a small cube made of dark steel and silver cogs. It whirred and he smiled satisfactorily, setting the finished device to the side*

 

[Aurantica]

As she neared the front of the shop, Ellie could see that the man had returned to the counter and was working with something.
At least he's not after me she thought.
Maybe he wouldnt be mad at her for firing the bow... She slipped back, retracing her steps. It WAS a beautiful bow, and she wanted to pick up those books she left. If the man was gone when she came back, Ellie decided, she would leave some money on the counter and leave with the books.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*His ears picked up that trembling heartbeat again. He smiled and continued working as he heard the footfalls come closer then retreat. She'd probably forgotten about the books he'd shown her. He wondered if she would be amused or annoyed by his unorthodox pricing methods...*

 

[Aurantica]

As she neared the table she had placed the books on, Ellie couldnt help but turn to look at the bow again. It was unstrung, the string dangling from one tip. He hadnt even bothered to replace it in the bag. She forced herself to pick up the books, and planning on a circuitous route, headed for the front of the store. If there was a place she could see without being seen, now was the time to find it.

Afer making a small loop around the most likely areas, during which she found a stuffed cat, bronze astrolabe and what appeared to be an elephant skull, she determined that there were no comfortable chairs to be found.

Well of course not. This is not a library she thought.

So instead she sat down in front of a sunny window, resting her back against one of the massive bookcaces, opened the journal, and began to read.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*Another trinket brought back to working order; this one a small mechanized bird. It had a place at its breast for a tiny gem to be placed. Using a set of tweezers, he placed the jewel into the slot, watching with a smug grin as the bird began clicking and moving, a tinny chirping issuing from its beak as it took wing and flew around the lobby. It landed back on the desk, cocking its head at him, and he nodded at it. The clockwork bird chirped twice and flew off into the shop. He laughed and hoped it would not be a nuisance to visitors.*

 

[Aurantica]

His laughter startled Ellie from her trance. The journal had been written by someone who clearly knew what they were doing. Pencil sketches covered margins, and though the handwriting was occasionally cramped, it was always neat. She resolved to put her nerves aside and buy it from the man.

She walked up to the counter and set the book on it gently, waiting for him to look up. She hoped he wouldn't be too upset about the tapestry.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*He'd been deeply engrossed in fixing another trinket when she set the journal on the counter. He caught it from the corner of his eye and looked up with a smile*

Ah, so you've decided to purchase this one. Find anything else interesting in your small journey?

*His eyes belied his knowledge. He waited to see if she would admit to using the bow, a glance creeping from her eyes to the tag hung from the journal. Another red tag with a star....price negotiable. Interesting...*

 

[Aurantica]

She shrugged. "Nothing I need. How much is this?"
She hoped he would set his price quickly. Now was certainly not the time to haggle. Standing like this, easy to see for anyone walking past the shop, she felt vulnerable. She offered him a faint smile, relieved that he wasn't upset about the tapestry. With luck, she could be gone before he thought of it again.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*A slight frown crossed his features. He was unsure what made her so skittish, but her urgency seemed unwarranted without a clear cause for it.*

My my, you are in a rush again. You know, I should apply the "you break it, you bought it" tax to this transaction. Yes, I know about the bow. Your lie by omission is not appreciated, but I am still willing to sell you this journal. Fortuitously for you, this tag leaves it to the buyer to name a price. If I find it acceptible, then the barter is done. If not, then other terms must be agreed upon.

*His hand drifted to the tag, holding it up so she could see it*

So, Nellie. What do you offer for this journal?

 

[Aurantica]

Of course he knew about the bow. With the noise the damn thing made, he would have to be deaf not to hear it.

"Look, I'm really very sorry about the tapestry I damaged. I didnt know the bow would do that. I was just checking to see if it shot true."

She glanced at the tag tucked into the middle of the book. I have to name my own price? she thought.

"80$?" she offered, tentativley. She hoped the book wasn't much more. Money wasn't easy to come by right now. Especially not for her.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*He quirked a brow at her offer. He didn't often deal in money, though it was offered quite frequently. He considered it for a moment, thumb and forefinger pulling at his chin*

That tapestry was quite a rare find. I'll accept your offer, but would request that you return at some point to help me repair it. I have the means, but it is a job meant for two people. Does that seem fair?

 

[Aurantica]

She nodded. Returning to any place more than once was risky, but this man seemed to know how to keep a secret.

" I'll do it, but please, if anyone asks, don't tell them I was here. "

She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a few bills, crumpled, worn, and still slightly damp. Carefully she counted out eighty dollars, ran the bills through her long fingers to straighten them, and set the on the counter.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*His hand touched hers as he took the bills, sliding them into the old cash register. It made not a clang nor a clatter as the drawer opened and closed. Odd for something of its age and apparent usage.*

Your secret's safe with me. Though I suspect that is the least of them, Ellie.

*He'd used her real name. His eyes were static, no sense of humor or secret triumph. He smiled and went back to working on his trinket. Sometimes, a touch is all it takes.*

 

[Aurantica]

Her eyes widened when she heard her name. How the hell did he know? Fear nearly knocked her over, her face blanching. whoever this man was , he had a way of finding things. Not just innocent objects like those that cluttered his shop, but snippets of information about people. She swallowed before speaking.

"How do you know my name?"

She was certain her voice didn't shake.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*He looked up at her for a moment, hands poised over this latest trinket; some sort of far-flung technological object, its purpose unclear as its electronic guts were laid out on the table*

They say that you can find all sorts of things on dollar bills these days....

*He returned to his tinkering, certain that her outrage would either spike or subside into confusion*

 

[Aurantica]

Ellie gripped the counter, bracing herself. What on earth was that supposed to mean?
All she could force out was a weak "wh..what?" She hated the stutter that popped up when she got nervous or scared. Right now it was only a slight impediment, but during long conversations it could be crippling.

 

[fr33ks33k]

When you passed the money to me, you may have passed that bit of knowledge along as well. It's nothing to be alarmed at, Ellie. Like I said, your secret is safe with me.

*He didn't look up this time, focusing on putting the device back together. He only hoped he was doing it correctly*

 

[Aurantica]

She turned away, her thoughts racing. If he could derive information from a simple touch, what else slipped through during the split second they were in contact? She swallowed. Ice cold terror flooded her mind, exactly like the moment she entered the shop. She tucked the book under one arm and headed for the door.

 

[fr33ks33k]

"Don't forget our deal, Ellie."

*He still focused on the tech before him. He heard her footfalls retreating in the direction of the front door. After about an hour, he'd assembled it completely. The final product seemed a cross between a cellular phone and a price scanner. He hefted it in one hand, pointing it toward a spot in the air just below the set of skylights. Gentle pressure on the trigger shot a beam of light from it, warping the air around it, leaving seemingly nothing changed. He smiled at the pastel color filtering through the skylight now. The glass had been tinted with various hues, in a random fashion. He set the device down, smiling a bit and moving on to the next trinket*

 

[Aurantica]

It was nearly a month later when Ellie found herself in front of the shop again. She stretched in the early-morning sunlight, feeling her muscles relax. Breath steaming in the air, she wrapped the old leather coat tighter around her and curled her gloved fingers up to her palms to warm them. She reassured herself this was the right thing to do.
Four steps took her around the corner into shadows, and another four brought her to the door of the shop.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*It had been quite a while since he'd had a visitor. He was just getting used to the silence when there was the scraping of shoes outside the door. He set down the journal he'd been reading, waiting for whomever it was to enter*