InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "You brave little soldier..."

Morgan Freeman (sweetwaterkill) wrote in paxletalelogs,
@ 2010-10-18 09:56:00

Entry tags:

jormungandr, mania

Who: Dorcas & Adam
What: Dorcas makes a delivery to a bookshop owner and runs into Adam.
Where: A bookshop
When: Sunday October 17th, Afternoonish
Warnings: tbd?

Although Dorcas was not meant to be working on the weekends, her boss had asked her to make a delivery if she was headed a certain direction. She was so she did. She had picked up the book that morning and had painstakingly made sure that it was wrapped in soft leather and placed carefully in a reinforced satchel. There would be no damage to this book at her expense, thank you. Especially since this book delivery was getting her a small bonus if successful. Of course, who was going to rob a pink haired girl with a satchel that could brain a man? (Okay, exaggeration. Whatever.)

So that was why she was standing at the counter of a particular bookshop, looking extremely awkward and clutching the bag. She was also kind of arguing with the clerk who was behind the counter. He wanted her to give him the book to give to the boss. She refused considering this was a very rare and expensive book. It should be delivered directly. He was pressing his advantage since she was stammering and kind of shrinking into herself. Damn the dominant types.

"Look, just give it to me and I'll get it to my boss," the clerk said. There was no please and his tone was overly firm like he was talking to a small child who was pissing him off but he just didn't want to smack it.

Dorcas looked like she was about to cry with frustration, "N-no, I n-need to deliver it d-directly!" She was trying so hard. It was cute.

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-19 07:00 pm UTC (link)

"It was an a-amusing idea but it got overdone real fast. R-right about the time the r-random soldier gets f-flogged for shagging a h-headless corpse." She wasn't about to start saying anything about Bronte. Those sorts of books had never really interested her. "Dorcas," she replied softly, feeling like she should have been named Eve or something else ironic. Maybe she was more of a Lilith. She twisted her fingers in the straps of the satchel, not sure if she should tell him. Actually she knew she shouldn't tell him but he had been so kind and he didn't have to be. Sigh. "It's a first edition of Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris."

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jormungandr
2010-10-19 08:09 pm UTC (link)

He made no comment on her name, dated though it might have been, and though the stutter was hard to miss he passed over it as if she had spoken with perfect clarity. Tyler and his ilk had long ago taught him just how annoying nitpicking obvious targets could be, and he had no intention of repeating their mistakes. The book was by far a more interesting topic at any rate, and it was to this he turned his attention now, dark eyes widening faintly as he peered toward the bag. "I'd ask to see it, but I'm pretty sure I know what your answer's going to be," he said, a teasing lilt bleeding into his tone. "Can't blame you, though. Do you run these errands often?" Black-lacquered nails tapped idly at the counter. "Seems like it'd be a slow business, dealing in books that expensive."

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-20 02:20 am UTC (link)

Ridiculously dated. She was so used to people commenting on it that it came as a surprise that Adam did not. However, she said nothing. She wasn't about to ask for teasing... What sane person did that? Laughing softly, she answered anyway, "Yeah, no. No seeing the book." Dorcas tucked her hair behind her ears, glancing in the direction that the clerk had run off in. What was taking so long? "Well most of our books are in the one hundred to fifty dollar range so it's a special thing when we get a 13 thousand dollar book or a 100 thousand dollar one. And I don't really do the drop offs, no. But I'm getting a bonus because my boss is off to Moscow today."

The clerk was coming back with no sign of anyone behind him - at least for a second. And in that second, Dorcas had sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and was worrying her lip ring between her teeth. But a moment after that, his boss appeared, heading straight for the counter. "Miss Carrigan, I'm so sorry," he said to her.

"That's alright," she said softly but was interrupted by a, "No, it isn't. And it won't happen again." Dorcas smiled briefly and started unbuckling the satchel. They had already received payment so all she had to do was deliver it. When she set the book on the counter, it felt like the man practically attacked it but all he did was gently unwrap the soft leather. "There it is... One more step in your collection." When Dorcas talked business, there was an ease to her speech that wasn't normally there.

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jormungandr
2010-10-20 01:07 pm UTC (link)

Adam peered across the counter, trying his damndest to get even the smallest view of this outrageously priced collector's item, so precious he was even denied overt perusal of it. His efforts were to no avail, and soon enough he gave up altogether, turning instead to the conversation at hand. It was remarkable how the girl's stammering self consciousness faded when she felt in her element, as thoroughly as if a switch had been flicked somewhere in her mind. Adam's lips pursed at the thought, his dark brow shaping a soft and quizzical arch.

He held his silence as their transaction went on. When at last their business appeared to be concluded he pushed off from the counter, ready to make himself scarce or continue the conversation depending on the girl's apparent preference. "I'd like to see what else is on a shopping list that includes a first edition Hugo," he said. "Interesting line of work you're in."

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-20 01:20 pm UTC (link)

She was all too aware of Adam's presence pressing in and trying for a peek. Dorcas smiled to herself, amused at how badly he wanted to see this particular volume. Honestly, it shouldn't have even been unwrapped in the public area. It should've been taken to a safe environment first with the rest of the collection. Still, she could understand the excitement. A short exchange of goodbyes followed as the bookshop owner wrapped the book up and whacked the clerk on the back of the head (mostly for show). Dorcas lifted a hand to her mouth, finger curling over her lips as she stifled a giggle.

Her attention went back to Adam when he spoke up again. "Mostly other Hugo books," she told him with a little shrug. It wasn't like they had some confidentiality agreement. "I just handle the phones and account books. It's my boss that has the interesting part. He's kind of like a book sniper and travels all over the world wheeling and dealing and thieving." What? She wasn't going to lie for the guy. "Um... Thank you a-again. For your help. I d-don't know how I can repay you."

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jormungandr
2010-10-20 02:48 pm UTC (link)

The lift to his brow grew significantly, but Dorcas passed over that most interesting, potentially fabricated tidbit as if it meant nothing at all. For the moment Adam chose not to belabor the point; if, later, an opportunity presented itself for them to delve back into such curious topics, he would be sure to take it.

He shrugged airily. "No need," he said. "I didn't do anything but come up and stand next to you. Some people just need a little extra push, is all."

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-20 04:12 pm UTC (link)

Perhaps almost unfortunately for her, none of it was a lie. Her life was just a series of strange events that shaped her world. She would have gladly answered any sort of question he might have had. Dorcas was, for the most part, an open book as she didn't exactly have the same social norms as everyone else.

"I could have never done it myself," she muttered softly, "I'm so bad at things like this. If I w-weren't trying to get a couch for my n-new apartment I w-wouldn't have bothered." Alright that was a little bit of a lie there but not one she did on purpose. "S-so I really do feel I should repay you."

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jormungandr
2010-10-22 12:22 pm UTC (link)

Adam shifted on his feet, suddenly uncomfortable in this continued, too-bright light. He tried to think of something he might need or even want, but nothing came to him; even the slim volume he still clutched was of no particular interest now. The pads of his fingers tapped idly at its cover, sounding out an irregular and meaningless rhythm as he thought. "Buy me an espresso," he said, his dark head tipping toward the doors. Though the shop itself had no bar to speak of, a coffee house lay just next door, and the warm smells wafting over from it had gotten to Adam since his initial approach to the place. "I think that'll break us even. And if not, you can make up the difference by telling me about this crazy Indiana Jones-sounding boss of yours."

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-22 12:33 pm UTC (link)

Dorcas made a face at the word 'espresso' but she was smiling. Just because she didn't like coffee didn't mean she couldn't buy him one. She glanced towards the door, recalling the coffee house next door as well. It had been a landmark in her directions in finding the book shop. "Alright. But it won't make us even," she said, biting her bottom lip slightly and for once being sort of sneaky, "I don't think we'll ever be even." Lowering her gaze to the floor, she did not wait for him to put the book back as she started for the door. Mid-step though, she turned around to face Adam again, walking backwards, "And he's not Indiana Jones. I don't know why everyone says that."

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jormungandr
2010-10-22 04:18 pm UTC (link)

He fell in close behind her, his eyes flicking from her to the door and back again; justified or not, Adam found himself suddenly concerned she might trip over something, or even walk into the glass door itself. "Oh, come on," he said, laughing as he shouldered teasingly into her. "It wasn't that big a deal. And 'everyone' says your boss is Indy cos his job description makes him sound like it. There are much worse things to be called."

He stepped in front of her, pushing open the door, holding it for her to go through. "What would you call him, then?"

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-22 07:10 pm UTC (link)

It was probably a good thing he was concerned because she did nearly back into a display shelf but managed to stop in time. It did remind her though, "Oh were you gonna buy that book?" She hadn't seen a bag so she felt the need to check. Even if she couldn't recall if he was still holding it. "It is a big deal to me. I rarely get helped by people... As for Indy, he's nicer than my boss." For her boss was mightily an ass.

She turned around once they got to the door, stepping back out onto the street and waiting for Adam, "You ever see The Ninth Gate?" It was an important question before she answered.

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jormungandr
2010-10-23 03:30 pm UTC (link)

He blinked down at the book in his hand, having completely forgotten about it in the course of things. A carrel of books to be reshelved lay just within reach; he leaned over toward it, gingerly tossing his nearly stolen book to its surface. He smiled with wordless apology and perhaps a little embarrassment as he returned to his doorman duties, gesturing her to go before him.

"I didn't," he said. His hands slid into his pockets, pushing at his jeans as they strode toward the coffee house. "Fill me in a little - no spoilers, though - and I'll probably Netflix it."

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-23 03:36 pm UTC (link)

Dorcas grinned a little. He didn't need to apologize to her for almost accidentally stealing a book. That was why she reminded him. At least he didn't continue on and actually steal it. She crossed her arms in front of her stomach, instinctively hunching over a little, "Okay, well... The main character is named Dean Corso. My boss is like him. Corso does things like go to a family where someone's just died and lie his ass off about the quality of a book to get a cheaper price. He is a book sniper." That was really the best way to describe it.

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jormungandr
2010-10-23 11:54 pm UTC (link)

"How do you keep up a career like that and not get found out?" There was no judgment in his voice; though Adam knew a career founded on deceit was something he personally could never do, he felt more intrigued by the prospect than earnestly disdainful. There was something to be said for knowing what you had and taking precautions to protect it. If a person allowed himself to be fleeced by a con man, it could be counted a hard lesson learned, and nothing more. Adam's lips thinned at this somewhat distasteful - though pragmatic - line of thought, twisting into a muted smirk. "It seems like at some point word would get around to prospective sellers. I mean, I guess the buyers don't mind, but the sellers..."

He trailed off, opening the coffee house door with a merry jangle of welcoming bells. "Just seems like the kind of gig with a potentially short shelf life," he said.

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sweetwaterkill
2010-10-24 01:49 am UTC (link)

She laughed, shaking her head a little, "Because everyone knows. It's just that everyone other buyer is as bad as he is. He's just better at it." Okay, not every book buyer was an evil villain but the ones that conned were the ones who would get the rarer books. "I just handle the accounts and the books." As long as she didn't have to get her hands dirty, right?

Dorcas slipped into the shop before him, "It pays well enough so I'll be fine." She headed for the counter, smiling far more than she had been and maybe feeling a little more comfortable. At least he hadn't tried to touch her like that Jack guy.

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