InsaneJournal

WHO: Giles and Ariel
WHEN: Early Morning on February 9th
WHERE: The Magic Box
WHAT: Ariel is a curious shopper
RATING: None
STATUS: Complete

Giles was standing there debating if he should put on his comedy Wizard outfit the Magic Box’s Grand re re opening day but the first day in this reality, Buffy didn’t approve of the costume but it did make him smile still it did destroy his credibility for being a serious shop owner so he opted against it.

He was appreciative of all the help and support he had from various people in getting this place open for business.

He had set up protective wards to keep out those unwelcome spirits and demons but as always he doubted his abilities.

Business would be slow to start he knew that, there would be the swath of people after love potions come Valentines but until then it would be mostly quiet the way Giles liked it.

Waiting was the hardest part of running a shop, but still there was plenty to read to help him pass the time he opened up his latest read at his bookmark and continued to read, pausing after each page to sweep his eyes around his empty surroundings, willing that bell above the door to ring.

***

Ariel had been quite fascinated when Giles had told her about his magic shop. She’d in fact just been quite fascinated by the man in general. But, then. She was fascinated by all things to do with humans. And, learning about the different types of magic was something she’d like to do. Not that she could probably ever learn them. Or really want to learn them. But, she wanted to learn about them.

And, this is why. After Giles had announced the opening. She, had decided to go and have a look around. And actually meet the interesting man she’d met on the network.

The bell rang as she came through the door, and she paused in wonder as she looked around her. It was amazing. She smiled happily as she started wandering around. Picking up things that looked interesting and trying to work out what they were.

***

Looking up as the bell rang Giles saw a dazzlingly beautiful woman entering his shop, something about her drew the eye she had a magnificent presence about her, she looked familiar, Giles knew he has seen her somewhere before. She must be one of the Displaced he has talked with on that accursed machine.

Instincts kicked in and one of his standard phrases rolled off his lips
“Hello there, welcome to The Magic Box. Have a look around and if you have any questions about anything just ask.”

Stretching his mind he remembered talking about face twins then it dawned on him, it was Ariel the charming lady that seems interested in his shop when he mentioned it to her.

At this Giles tries to decide if he should introduce himself or if he should just let her browse. Struggling with the thought he subconsciously removed his glasses and reached for his handkerchief. Losing himself in his thoughts he fails to notice he is staring at her watching her pick up an item look at it then get distracted by another item.

***

Ariel was quite happily exploring the shop, when she realised that Giles was staring at her. She tilted her head inquisitively. Wondering if she was doing something wrong. Or if she looked funny or something. She looked down at herself, twisting the bracelet on her wrist absent-mindedly. The bracelet which almost never came off.

Then, she looked at the object she’d just picked up. She couldn’t for the life of her work out what it was. So, she approaches the counter, smiling slightly apprehensively.

“Hi” She said, tilting her head as she spoke. “Can you tell me what this is?”

***

As Ariel tilts her head and looks at him, he realises he has just been stood staring and watching her. Embarrassed Giles snaps out of his thoughts and deftly returns his glasses to his nose.

He realises too late that she noticed him staring and as she approaches he begins to look around in a panic trying to come up with an explanation.

Caught off guard by her innocent friendly question Giles just begins to stutter and he stares at the object.

He recognises it but the actual name is just missing from his head, be begins to blather and eventually settles into some level of coherency

“Ah .., well... thats a …. well… erm… its a…. basically a… kinda…. hair… erm…. hat clip, used to attach an... egyptian headdress. It was used as a symbol of a cult called the Cleopatrites, its said to have properties that help protect the wearer from unwanted attractions”

***

The mermaid tossed her hair over her shoulder, looking at the hat clip curiously. Tilting it every which way to examine it from different angles. A cute little frown furrowing her nose.

“How does it work?” She asked absent mindedly, before shrugging and turning back to Giles. “I’m Ariel, by the way. We spoke on the network.” She held out her hand, remembering what she’d learned by way of human interaction since she’d arrived here. “It’s nice to meet you.”

***

Giles instinctively reaches out and shakes her hand firmly, smiling and bowing his head slightly as he does.
“oh yes I remember you, from that infernal machine, so much better to meet you in person.”
“This clip is for attaching a headress to your hair and holding it in place so that is doesn’t move out of place or fall off.”
“The original clips were said to hold the power to contain the amazing beauty of those that wore them so that they wouldn’t affect those around them unless they wanted to.”

“Do you want me to show you how it is worn? not that i’m really good with things like this not having much hair myself erm...”
Giles starts looking around for something to use as a hat or headress, eventually grabbing a circlet made of vines and feathers woven around each other and deftly hooking the hat clip around it.

“Now this part slides into the hair like this and fastens like so ensuring the headress will be secured to the hair and reduce its ability to move like so.”

***

Ariel’s eyes widen with interest as he explained how it worked. She found so many of these types of things fascinating. And, quite happily stood still as he fastened the circlet into her brilliantly red hair, before turning back to him with a bright smile.

“How do I look?” She giggled, happily. She’d found out something new, and made a new friend in the process. It was a good day.

Not waiting for an answer, she found a mirror, and happily regarded herself, turning her head from side to side to look at it from different angles. Before bouncing back to the counter, and pulling her credit card out of her bag.

“I’d like to buy both of these, please.” She was quite proud of herself for remembering that she needed to buy things, to be honest. Belle had had to explain that concept to her in great length when she’d first arrived.

***

“Oh yes right”

Giles punches buttons on the archaic till and eventually a bell rings and the drawer opens he then pulls out an odd contraction, places the card into it with a piece of paper and makes an imprint of the card on the paper then puts the paper on the counter and holds out a pen.

“Sign here if you would be so kind.“

***

Ariel’s eyes widened at the old fashioned credit card machine. She’d never used one before. But, she shrugged and signed on the dotted line.

“Thanks.” She smiled happily, as she collected up her purchases. “It was really nice to meet you, properly.”

***

“Always a joy to be of help, and i’m really glad to meet you too.”

“Thank you for shopping at the Magic Box, do pop in any time.”

With that Giles watches Ariel departure and amusement at the bell above the door ringing as she opens the door to leave and is left with a slightly bemused smile thinking what an oddly easy to please customer and a truly charming lady. With a sigh he wished more of his customers were that easy to deal with and goes back to waiting for whomever will blow through his door next..