Dorian Gray (portraitof) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-11-29 23:27:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, dorian gray, nico robin |
Who: Dorian Gray and Robin Nico
When: Backdated: Mid November
Where: Remember Yesterday
What: Dorian is looking for a gift for Vanessa
Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly
Status: Complete
Robin loved the Holiday Season. Not simply because it meant at least two months of frenzied good business. There was something about the feeling that came along with it. A feeling of warmth and caring just as the temperature started to dip into the territory of cold.
Of course the season kept her busy, busier than usual. People came into her shop - some of them regulars, but many of them not - seeking just that perfect gift for someone special, someone dear to them. Robin was only too happy to help these people find that special item, no matter how big or how small, that would become a treasure.
It was all treasure, people just weren’t aware of it yet.
Robin was experiencing a momentary lull in business that afternoon, affording her a little time to tidy up the shelves and various free standing antiques that had been disturbed or moved and get an idea what holes needed to be filled with goodies from the backroom.
Dorian didn’t do Christmas shopping. With his parents gone there wasn’t really anyone to shop for; however this year he was definitely getting something for Vanessa. There was no question about that, but he wasn’t entirely sure what yet. She wasn’t the sort of girl you could get generic jewelry for or chocolates or pretty much anything generic. She was unique and so she deserved a unique gift.
He had spent the day out, attempting to get some ideas when he spotted the antique store. Antique stores were something that intrigued Dorian a little. His parents had bought quite a few antiques to decorate the house back when they were alive and Dorian had even bought a few antiques himself, but those were usually large items from auctions; he never spent very much time in shops himself, but there was something about this one. He told his driver to pull over and after straightening his clothes, once he was standing on the sidewalk, he went inside the shop.
The bells over the door gave a light jingle, signaling to Robin that she had a customer. She peered out from around the shelf she had been tidying. “Good afternoon,” she called to her customer. “Welcome to Remember Yesterday. I’ll be with you in just a moment.”
She quickly finished dusting the shelf she’d been working on, arranged a few items so it didn’t look quite as empty and then hurried to place the duster back behind the cash counter. That job temporarily put on hold she turned her attention back to her sole customer for the moment. She dusted her hands quickly on the rag to be sure they were clean. “Hello. How can I help you today?”
Dorian looked up when he heard the woman’s voice and nodded when she told him she’d be right with him. While he waited, he glanced over the shelves closeby, waiting to see if anything would jump out at him. He wasn’t looking for anything specific, but had a feeling that if he found something for Vanessa he’d know it when he saw it.
When the woman approached him, Dorian smiled in return, “Hello. I’m just looking actually.” He wondered if the woman owned the shop or if she simply worked there cause he didn’t see anyone else working so it was entirely possible that it was in fact her shop, “Do you own this shop?”
Although occasionally people came in knowing exactly what it was they wanted, it wasn’t unusual for someone to come in without any clue about what they wanted, especially this time of year.
“I do,” Robin answered with a nod and extended her hand, “my name is Robin Nico,” she introduced herself, her voice carrying a hint of an accent of someone who had spent a great deal of her childhood in countries that didn’t necessarily speak English. “I bought this shop a year ago this month, so it’s something of an anniversary for me. As that is the case and that it is the start of the Holiday Season, I’m running a special. Items with a blue sticker,” she indicated a bright blue dot on a price tag belonging to an old, but very well preserved, metal train, “are 25 percent off. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.”
“Dorian Gray.” He asid, shaking her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Robin.” Dorian’s gaze followed her as she explained the sale, “Congratulations on your anniversary. Where do you get your antiques?” He knew that some antique store owners went to other antique shops to find things, but not all antique dealers did that same things.
“A pleasure to meet you, Dorian,” Robin said. The corners of her eyes crinkled slightly with her smile. “Thank you. It’s been an interesting and educational year. Especially when it came to getting items to sell.” Not a lot of people asked her that. Robin always assumed that to be normal. She herself didn’t often think where the stores she often frequented got their wares (with the exception of coffee shops because the growth and distribution of coffee was actually rather fascinating). “My antiques come from a number of places. Some of them come from other shops. I have something they want or need and they give me something similar or of equal value in exchange. Other items came from estate sales or auctions and a few items are sold to me privately. I even had a few things given to me because the owners just didn’t want them anymore. Sometimes it surprises me what people are willing to part with free of charge.”
There were a few other ways Robin procured items she sold. Those were not necessarily legal, although Robin herself did not directly participate in anything illegal. Items of that nature were never put out on the floor for sale. Those went to particular customers. Dorian didn’t need to know that however, unless he planned on becoming a Particular Customer.
Dorian couldn’t help but wonder what this woman would think of The Portrait. It was a sort of antique, considering his dreams took place in the late eighteen hundreds. However, he wasn’t likely to show anyone; except maybe Vanessa, the portrait, because he didn’t think that anyone would understand it. He still didn’t understand it completely, but he knew for a fact that it worked more or less exactly like in his dreams. The first night it had shown up, he’d cut himself, purposely, and before his eyes, the wound had healed and transferred to the portrait.
“You must enjoy looking for new items to sell.” Dorian began moving then, gazing at various shelves as he continued talking to Robin, “Do you have a favorite item that you currently have in stock?” He glanced over his shoulder at her.
“I’m always looking for items,” Robin said. “Discovering new treasures is always fun.” She would have been terribly interested to hear about The Portrait. Gifts people received from their dreams were always fascinating. So far the only thing she’d received was the skimpy (but surprisingly comfortable) outfit her dreamself had worn as a member of Baroque Works. It was a bit too revealing to wear out and about, except for the coat, which was currently in the back room hanging from the coat rack.
Robin watched Dorian start to move among the shelves, but did not move to follow him. “A favorite?” She asked then tilted her head thoughtfully and placed a finger to her chin. “That’s a good question. Let me think…” she looked at Dorian trying to assess what he may find interesting. What Robin found odd and fascinating didn’t always translate well to others. Then she looked about her store. “I have so many interesting things. Oh!” She hurried to the front of her store. A large music box player occupied a corner near the front window. Robin found that most people adored music. “I acquired this a few months ago, along with several disks to go with it.”
Dorian followed Robin, curious about what had gotten her so excited. Upon seeing the music box, Dorian’s brows rose slightly, “That’s gorgeous. It works, I expect?” It wasn’t a piece that Dorian would have in his own house, but it was definitely a very nice piece, “What’s the story behind it?” Most antiques had a story and he was curious as to what this pieces was.
“Everything has a story,” Robin said. She gently ran her finger over the box’s open lid. “I’m afraid I don’t know too terribly much about this particular piece,” she said carefully. “I can say it’s roughly 100 years old. I don’t know how many owners it’s had, but I did get it from an estate sale. Apparently it was still being used by the elderly couple that owned it. That is until the husband died and the wife just couldn’t bring herself to listen to it. She also couldn’t bring herself to get rid of it. It was quite sad, really. Would you like to hear it?”
“I’d love to.” Dorian was intrigued by the story and very interested in hearing how the music box sounded. It was obvious by the way Robin talked about the piece that it really was one of her favorites and Dorian hoped, for her sake, that no one else decided to buy it so that she could have it for a long time.
Robin nodded her head with a slight smile and started to turn the handle to wind the music box up. She really was fond of the box, and it was extra special since it still worked as though it were new. Because of that it was one of the more expensive pieces in her shop front at the moment. However, as much as Robin liked the box, she knew she couldn’t keep it for herself. It needed to go on to someone else, someone who would take as much joy in it as its previous owners had. Someone who would wind it up and sit and listen and enjoy its music from a bygone era.
The music from the large tin disk wasn’t anything close to what was produced on today’s CD’s or MP3’s, but it was still beautiful nonetheless, even if a bit haunting. Robin turned back towards Dorian, still smiling. “If you would like to come with me,” she said, “I can show you a few more pieces I find especially interesting.”
Dorian listened as the music box began playing and he had to admit that it sounded better than he had expected. “That’s beautiful. I hope you get to keep it for a long time.” He said, indicating the music box. When she asked him if he wanted to see a few more interesting pieces, he nodded. While he was looking, it was possible that he’d find a gift for Vanessa, “I’d like that.”