OOM: Everything will always be all right

[herr_bookman]

"I swear, I've passed this fountain thrice already," Autor mutters, wrinkling his nose at his map of Vane, one of Lunar's capital cities.

Mia had told him to go browse for flying carpets on his day off, so here he is, wandering around downtown and losing hope in finding the store he had set out to find. He sees groomed courtyards, crowded marketplaces, and a particularly gorgeous fresco of Althena, the local goddess, but nothing to do with airborne rugs.

Autor frowns. All of this walking around is exacerbating the pinches in his legs, sore from a new morning run routine. Needless to say, the kid is stumped and irascible--something he's thinking about working out on the stupid fountain which he has now passed for the fourth time.

Comments

[herr_bookman]

Predictably, he stops. "I see. Would you be so kind as to point me in the right direction? How far away is the shop? Do you visit Vane often? How long have you lived in Merb--"

Autor clamps his teeth together. What am I doing? he thinks, a little abashed. She will be in my presence for less than ten minutes. I don't really need to know anything about her.

[iambetadraconis]

"My my. So full of curiosity and questions!"

There is a bit of light laughter as he is given an even bigger smile.

It's a warm, inviting, harmless smile. A "just for me, please?" smile.

"I could tell you where it is, sure. But I'd rather show you personally. That map certainly didn't help you, did it?"

[herr_bookman]

Oh, and her avoiding them just makes him more curious. The boy doesn't know whether to be annoyed or interested. He decides on both, with annoyance having the stronger presence.

He meets her grin with a tight-lipped smile of his own which clearly communicates, "No." The kid is not quite sure what he's saying no to, of course, but the no is pretty emphatic.

He gestures, politely, and inclines his head. "Lead the way."

[iambetadraconis]

"This way then."

If he asks about any of the shops, she'll give him what she knows about them.

Along the way are a couple of antique booksellers.

That might cause them to take longer to get to Gideon's shop than usual, but if so, she won't mind.

"How long have you been in the city?" she asks as they make their way. "And how are you finding it so far?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor does ask about the shops. Every single one. He lingers at the bookstores, of course, and even makes a few pertinent notes on his map. He'll be back.

"You're fairly knowledgeable," he says, impressed. "Clearly I've been here less often than you. Do you prefer Merbia to Vane?"

Did she really think she had a shot at winning the question game?

[iambetadraconis]

...they were playing the question game? :x

She watches him as he makes his notes after pausing at the booksellers. If Autor has a love in his life, it's made of pulped wood and ink, and bound up in leather.

"Why thank you, young man." More smiles. "I find I enjoy both, though if I like Vane a little more, it's because I have a reason to spend more of my time here than in my home city."

[herr_bookman]

The game is always afoot.

"Ah, yes, the person you mentioned," he says, nodding. Autor doesn't need her to confirm such. He knows he's right.

"I assume both our goals are within reach in short order, then?"

[iambetadraconis]

"As a matter of fact..."

Standing at a seemingly unassuming building, she rings the bell outside the door three times to let Gideon—and, more importantly, Rabastan—know that she's here.

"Ah, Elea," says the elderly man. "He's been waiting to see you—"

He eyes Autor, and adjusts his glasses.

"Are you coming in too, young man? Elea didn't say anything about bringing someone with her..."

"He's here to look at your carpets."

"Is he then? Good good. Come in, both of you."

[herr_bookman]

Autor makes a note on his map while the introductions are made. He's almost grateful to the nameless woman; he never would have found the place otherwise.

All right, fine. He'll whisper a quiet, "thank you," at her elbow.

He nods at the man's inquiry. "I am, but I confess I don't know too much about them. Is there someone I could talk to with a basic understanding of the models you carry?"

[iambetadraconis]

A whispered "You're quite welcome" is returned.

Gideon, meanwhile, is standing a little straighter.

"Actually, lad, that would be me." Pause. "Come. Let me show you around. See if we can find you something?"

Elea, meanwhile, is making her way towards a door at the back of the store. Since Rabastan hasn't been called out yet, he's taking a break from his duties to enjoy a snack in the back room.

There's a somewhat inaudible greeting, and she steps through...

"So. What would you like to know?"

[herr_bookman]

Goodness, Gideon, that is just about the worst question to ask. Autor pulls out a brochure that Mia gave him, and gestures to the notes he's peppered throughout.

He wants to know about size, speed, cost, difficulty of breaking in a used carpet, current inventory and how often the store restocks, and oh, yes, how are your payment plans?

Be prepared to haggle, too.

"In essence, something used, but reliable," Autor says. "The looks don't matter, as long as I can fly in it."

Then he tilts his head and cracks a sheepish grin. "And preferably? Fast. But mostly reliable."

[iambetadraconis]

Are you kidding? This is like a Christmas gift to him.

So while Gideon talks carpets with Autor, Elea is chatting with Rabastan—

—into the shoulder she's snugging against.

It's the sort of conversation that's likely to make Autor sick, and since it's idle talk, there's no need to repeat any of it.

Meanwhile, Gideon is going on at length about the history of the store, which, while somewhat embellished, is proving to be quite informative.

[herr_bookman]

Autor nods politely, and jots down some notes. He's actually fairly interested in the establishment itself, as it's part of the architecture of Vane--but then again, he's fairly interested in a lot of things.

Eventually, he's ready to take his leave, and indicates such. "Well, I'm fairly satisfied, thank you. I'm looking to make a final purchase in a couple of weeks, so I'll return then, Sir...?"

[iambetadraconis]

If he can't make a sale now, he's going to at least get Autor to sample the wares.

"Do you not want to see what's on offer first, lad, if you do not want to buy now?"

[herr_bookman]

No one gives out their names! Autor can't decide if that trait amongst Vanetians--which mirrors his own--is annoying or admirable.

"I was under the impression that a carpet had to be broken in," Autor says, clasping his hands behind his back. "What do you mean by, 'sampling the wares'?"

[iambetadraconis]

Vanetians are legendary/notorious for being a bit cool towards outsiders.

"If you're not paying me now, lad, I'd like to know which one you want if you want it to still be here when you pay me in full."

Be prepared to make a down payment if you do. He has a business to run, and it doesn't run on unsold merchandise.

[herr_bookman]

Autor smiles. It's not a mean smile, really. It's just not a very nice one.

"I am fairly flexible," he says smoothly, and glances at his notes. "You have the range of merchandise I expected you to have, and I've already checked them against my notes. I'll return in a few weeks, as I've said. Should I find something, I'll pay in full."

He tilts his head. "Unless, of course, you have some options in the backroom which I've not yet seen?"

[iambetadraconis]

"I'm impressed, lad. Most people who come in here expect me to do most of the decision-making."

You have no idea how gratifying Gideon finds it to have an educated customer walk through his door.

Assuming that look of "I don't know" only an experienced merchant can assume, Gideon appears to be seriously contemplating the matter of whether Autor should be let into the back of his shop or not.

"Well, lad. I don't normally show people what I have in the back room, but for you I might make an exception...

"Mind, the things back there might cost a little more."

Haggling? You'd better be good at that Autor if you want anything from there.

[herr_bookman]

Autor both grins and wrinkles his nose at the comment. I bet your favorite thing to decide is how heavy their pockets are before they leave.

"Thank you," he says politely as he follows Gideon's lead to the back. "There are few merchants wise enough to listen to their customers. I appreciate your making this an expedient process."

High praise.

[iambetadraconis]

Don't make that sound so perverse Autor. He has to make a living somehow.

Before Rabastan took up employment in the shop, Gideon was not much in the habit of knocking on the doors in his own store, but a light tapping on the wood tells Rabastan that whatever he's up to when not doing his job, it's time to end it and get ready to work.

And, um, for him and Elea to straighten themselves up before he enters.

"Could you bring in one of the carpets that just came in?" Gideon asks of his employee as soon as he and Autor enter the room...

[herr_bookman]

The boy just about chokes when his gaze fixes on the wizard. Of all the--! Truth be told, he'd completely forgotten that the clumsy oaf lived in Vane.

He has a vague thought acknowledging that Rabastan appears strangely cheerful, but shoves that away in favor of tilting his chin and giving the man the coldest smile he can conjure up.

Autor then flicks his gaze over to Elea, looking her over from head to toes in the context of this new information. Slightly flushed cheeks, flirty smile, hair still moving from where she'd patted it down. She couldn't have known my relation to Rabastan; she would have brought me right to him, he thinks, and narrows his eyes. So who are you?

Finally, he clasps his arms behind his back and turns back to Gideon. "I've learned quite a bit on this trip. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this shop holds."

[iambetadraconis]

Smiling at Gideon and Autor, Elea makes her way to the opposite end of the room, giving Autor a smile as she passes him.

Gideon meanwhile is clearing away a few things to make room for the inspection of merchandise.

It's when their backs are turned that Autor is given a very angry look in return. His eyes seem to have a light of their own that makes their yellow colour stand out more. He bares his teeth in a sharp grimace, and for a moment looks like a dog with its ears pinned back.

A wolf.

How dare? Here? What? Arrogant child! What is Mia thinking letting him of all people into Vane?

"Of course, Gideon."

He has the impulse to bring out one that hasn't been prepped by Gideon to look a combination of "gently used" and "aging gracefully", then shelves it.

He has no intentions of losing his job because of a moment of pettiness.

Stepping into a room just off to the side where deliveries are brought, "Right away."

It's another five minutes before a carpet is levitated into the back room. Four and a half more than was strictly necessary.

[herr_bookman]

Autor now has a theory, and like all of his theories, he's going to test it immediately. When Elea passes, he offers her not only a nod, but a smile in return. A very pointed, very fond smile.

The boy raises a brow at Rabastan's fury, before turning his head with a quiet, "hmph." He steps back, allowing him to pass, and spends the five minutes hastily scribbling down notes.

When Rabastan returns, he appears aloof, unruffled, and clearly pleased. "Any particular reason you picked this one?" he asks lightly.

[iambetadraconis]

There's a look of—no, not jealousy but pain and maybe a worried sense of fear in his eyes—when Autor gives Elea his smile.

Briefly.

Before the carpet is retrieved.

"Gideon will want to show you his better wares," is the terse response.

"Yes, yes. Set it down here would you Rabastan, so the young lad can see it?"

[herr_bookman]

That... was not the reaction Autor was expecting. Oh, now that's interesting. Does he see me as a threat to her? The jigsaw pieces of the woman snap into place: mussed hair. Flushed cheeks. Important to Rabastan.

Elea, he thinks, and has to smother a laugh. Of course.

Autor keeps Rabastan in the corner of his eye as he inspects the carpet. "Why are you charging six thousand more silver for this one when I saw a similar one in the front room? What makes this one different?" he asks curiously.