Isobel Brandt \\ Persephone (praxidike) wrote in paxletalelogs, @ 2017-04-25 10:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | npc, persephone, uke mochi |
stopping by for a chat
Who: Bryan [NPC] & Alice; later on, Isobel.
What: Bryan stops by Alice's shop to drop something off; Alice speaks with Isobel.
Where: Rosemary & Thyme and later on, Isobel’s apartment.
When: April 25
A small bell chimed to announce the presence of a customer inside Rosemary & Thyme; the man slipped dark shades off of his face, hanging them from the collar of his shirt as his eyes roamed about the space. He walked toward the front counter, looking apathetically stoic and somehow displeased at the bright, cheerful sight of pastel colors and Easter decorations. Dressed in a plain green and white striped tee over jeans, he looked like any other man to have stepped off the street; perhaps a handsome one, his face carefully shaven, hair close cropped. One hand moved to rest the fingertips of his right hand on the counter, looking for a salesperson.
“I’m coming!” A cheerful voice called from the kitchen and shortly after Alice pushed through the swinging doors and flashed a grin at the man. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. Welcome to Rosemary & Thyme! Can I help you with anything or are you just browsing?”
His demeanor changed on a dime; it was as if he was waiting to see what he'd be up against, a man or a woman, someone young or old. A million watt smile lit up his face, and he leaned further into the counter.
"Yeah, I was looking for the owner of this shop. Alice Kennedy? Is she in today?"
“Oh, that’s me!” Alice replied, smiling brightly but there was a twinge of concern in her eyes. Was he there to make a complaint? Did an order go wrong? This was an angle of the shop that she didn’t like, the managerial one, she hated having to be authoritative.
"Great, great," he replied, standing up straight. He smiled at her again, then turned to the side, eyes moving intrusively over the space as though appraising it. "Nice little place you've got here. Really...charming. Bet you worked hard on it, right? Put every ounce of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears making this thing come together." His head swung back toward her, his smile looking more like bared teeth. "Am I right?"
Alice grew still, something deep inside her feeling a quiver of fear by his behavior while her reasonable side tried to brush it off. Stop being so nervous. He hasn’t said or done anything threatening. Alice licked her lips and swallowed before answering. “Yes, I worked very hard for this; I’m glad you think it’s nice.” She bit at her lip and looked around the otherwise empty shop. “So you were looking for me… can I help you with anything?”
"I'm hoping you can," he replied, turning to fully face the counter again. "You know someone named Isobel St. Germaine? I think she lives in the same apartment complex as you?"
He visibly calmed, holding his hands up palms out in a peace offering gesture. "Sorry, I know I'm coming off a little strong. I've just been trying to get ahold of her and she's been avoiding me, kinda rudely at that, so I was hoping you might be able to pass on a message to her from me. You know? Just a letter, nothing crazy."
Alice didn’t reply at first but looked at the man, blinking, then gave a small nod. “Um, yes, I…” Her mind went into hyper drive. This stranger obviously knew Isobel, knew her full name even, and he was only asking her to deliver a letter. There was no harm that could be done with that, could there? “Yes, I know Isobel. I’m sorry she’s been avoiding you. It’s just a letter? That you want to give to her?”
He nodded, reaching into a back pocket for a folded envelope with Isobel's first name scrawled on the front.
"Yeah, it's... Look, it's personal, OK? And I don't know which apartment she's in, and the concierge is...a little weird so I didn't think he'd just give it to her for me. I just want her to read it; we were in an argument, and... it's an apology." His voice went a little quieter, all the previous anger downgraded to bluster to protect his own ego. He fingered the envelope. "She won't talk to me, and I figured if I sent her something like this... Maybe it'd get her to at least return my text messages."
Alice nodded as if she understood, but she didn’t. The whole situation felt a little weird, a little uncomfortable, and she couldn’t help but hear that faint voice deep inside her telling her beware. “I’ll drop it off at her apartment,” Alice replied with a nod, her hand lifting out to accept the envelope. “And if Isobel isn’t there, I’ll leave it with her fiance. What’s your name, by the way?” She lifted her gaze and met his.
He handed her the envelope, his smile changing into an unnameable emotion as it left his grasp.
"You can tell her it's from Bryan. And I'd really like it if it went to her, not her fiancé, you know? I think he'd keep it from her."
Alice frowned but gave a nod. “Sure, I’ll text her to see if she’ll be home later and stop by so I can give the letter to her. From Bryan,” she said, pointing a finger at him before grasping the envelope and turning it lightly with her hands. “Do you need anything else?”
He started to shake his head, and then glanced at the glass display case next to the counter. "Sure," he replied, pointing to a large chocolate chip brownie. "I'll take one of those." He dug into a back pocket, pulling out his wallet. "How much?"
“Three dollars,” Alice replied, standing a little straighter and slipping the envelope under the counter.