Lunar Magic
Built-in wooden shelves filled with books on various metaphysical and occult topics, and mythology, line the royal blue walls. The shelves are divided by openings to the left and right, and directly across from the entrance where the counter is.
To the right of the entrance is an area that is separated from the shop with a blue and white beaded curtain. Behind the curtain is a seating area, focused around a large round table that is covered with a white crocheted cloth. Atop the table is a small crystal ball, around which a pattern of tarot cards can typically be found. Surrounding the table are several antique armchairs, and a deep blue Victorian style couch. Against the wall are a few shorter bookshelves with various crystals and items.
To the left of the entrance is a vastly open area. Several glass counters can be found, housing silver and pewter jewelry, decorated with a variety of stones and crystals. The window display for the shop can also be found here, a more traditional "occult" set up, with pewter chalices, glass skulls, and crystal balls.
Directly across from the entrance is a wooden counter that holds an old fashioned, non-digital cash register. The wall behind the counter is a small shelf filled with jars of odd-colored powders, tinctures, and clear, labeled jars stuffed with every herb and contorted root imaginable. The front of the counter is typically strewn with fliers for events going on in the city, as well as events and sales going on in the shop.
Characters
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| Mikayla Kadestra | Serafine Roche |
Today was ridiculously hot. The thing about living in the city when it's ridiculously hot is that there's not a whole lot of air flow between the tall buildings, and the pavement gets exceedingly warm. Enough so that it creates heatwaves when you look out across it. The worst thing about it is when you live above a shop and neither is equipped with air conditioning.
Mikayla may not have had traditional education, but she's well aware of the fact that heat tends to rise. That fact, and that one alone, means that being in the apartment with her grandmother is unbearable. Even at this hour.
Sitting atop the counter in the shop listening to a punk radio station, Kay's got her hair pulled back and twisted into a messy bun on the back of her head. She's barefoot, wearing a simple black tank top and a pair of denim daisy dukes.
:::
Cold. Heat. Humidity. None of it bothers the vampire. It could be double digits below zero in an upstate blizzard or triple digits with suffocating humidity, and for a vampire, it's like any other day. They feel the changes in temperature, and there are little effects. They move more slowly than normal, reflexes are not as sharp, distraction may come more easily, but in the end they are not affected in the same manner as humans.
Or werecreatures.
Even so, Serafine has played this game long enough to know how it goes. She's spent the evening wandering the Village, arriving just before sunset, and sticking to the shadows and shaded parts of the street, taking refuge inside air conditioned shops as the sun sank beneath the horizon. It's a misconception that vampires have to wait indoors until full dark; if they are capable of being awake, they are capable of being out and about. It's just a small matter of protection from the sun. Easier to achieve in winter when layering clothing is expected. However, no one gave the vampiress a second look in her long skirt and sleeves, when she wrapped her face and head in a birka. People made assumptions. It works.
Now, that it's later, she's long since lost the full covering, the clothing bits tucked into the bag at her shoulder. She's wearing a simple aqua and white sleeveless shirt and khaki shorts, pacing her way along the street. Serafine doesn't have a destination in mind, and she pauses outside the shop. She's been past it many times, but this is the first time she's seen a light on this late, and she stops to peer into one of the display cases. She has only the vaguest ideas of what she's looking at, but it doesn't matter, she's mostly just window shopping.
:::
It's a sense at first. A tingle at the back of her neck. Someone is watching her. It's not uncommon. People in the city like to window shop no matter the hour.
Lifting her head she gives a small sniff at the air. There's no scent. She wasn't expecting there to be. Walls and windows get in the way.
Actually spotting the woman standing outside, she hops off the counter. The book is set atop it before she wanders to the door.
"We're closed," she says through the window, pointing at the sign.
:::
Serafine gives a friendly smile to the girl on the other side of the window. The vampiress wasn't intending on asking the girl to open up the store. She simply stopped to browse at the trinkets in the window.
"I see that," Sera tells her in return, gesturing at the sign herself. "I'm just looking." She speaks very slowly, carefully enunciating her words, figuring the human girl won't hear her as well as the vampire hears the girl.
"Window shopping."
As hot as it is, you'd think there wouldn't be a breeze, but a faint one attempts to stir the heavy night air, carrying with it the scents of sweating bodies and artificial deodorizers, and faintly tinged with … wolf.
The vampire doesn't even look around, just continues to gaze into the store window, nostrils flaring just a bit as she latches onto that scent of wolf. She's much more cognizant of them since the wolf girl was attacked the night of Sera's gala.
:::
Giving a quick glance toward the back of the shop, Kay cocks her head to the right. Holding her index finger up she indicates for the woman to wait just a moment.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
No movement from upstairs.
Quietly turning the lock, she brings the index finger to her lip and motions for the woman to come inside.
Catching the scent of the woman causes eyes to widen and Kay to step back three steps. Her body goes into defensive automatically. A slight shift to the weight on her left foot behind her as she sniffs the air again.
"What could you possibly want in my shop?"
:::
Wolf. Serafine recognizes the source of the scent mere seconds before the girl opens the door to the shop. She can't help but mirror the young wolf's sniffing, scenting out the other's mood and physiological state. Honestly, she should simply leave, because Sera does not want trouble from or with the Pack - assuming the girl is Pack.
She should leave, but she's too much Kieran's Child to do such a thing and back down now that she's been … well, not really challenged. The girl's posture is defensive, ready to spring if required, but not quite ready to iniatiate what would be a very unnecessary fight.
"I don't know that I want anything," Serafine sighs, her southern drawl highlighted in the near bored tone she uses. "I was simply window shopping. I've never seen this place lit up before this late."
Ever.
"Some of us are more schooled than others." Serafine isn't quite as schooled as Kieran, and she learned more about the arcane from James than she did her Maker, but it's not something that is often brought up or discussed.
:::
"This is only our second week open."
Mikayla remains on the defensive. Her grandmother is upstairs and she's never been quite certain on what is considered part of the shop and what is considered part of the home. She's never had to worry about it before. Her paranoid grandmother has been closing the shop well before sunset.
As she studies the woman, Kay cocks her head to the right again. Another sniff is given.
She doesn't relax.
She doesn't spring either.
"The window displays hardly encompass everything we have. Come in."
:::
"There was a shop here before. Similar." Serafine never paid it much mind either, other than to notice it was usually closed when she passed by. Of course, it never really garnered much attention to the storefront or display windows.
Serafine enters the shop proper, giving the girl a careful berth and maintaining a proper distance. A difference between the woman and many of her kind, who pay little respect to personal distance and boundaries, usually as a show of power and dominance.
"Thank you," Serafine smiles, it's charmingly polite. She might be projecting just a bit to keep the wolf from overreacting.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Her tone is almost mothering as the vampiress glides with ease and grace toward one of the display cases. She glances back over her shoulder. "I don't want trouble in the city, and I like Blake."
Beat.
Serafine considers and her smile softens as though she's thought of a joke of her own. "He may not feel the same, but we have a mutual respect."
:::
"Who?"
Yeah, alright. Mikayla's playing her hand. She's got no clue what the vampire is talking about. She doesn't really care. If this stranger peruses and buys something? It's another sale. If she doesn't? As long as there's no trouble, she doesn't care.
"You're welcome."
It's an afterthought. Her grandmother would be proud of her for remembering her manners. She typically has them. Kay's just a bit on edge this evening.
The heat isn't helping.
:::
The response has the vampire swinging her head back to stare at the wolf. A slow, careful deliberate blink follows. Serafine cants her head to the right in consideration, green eyes narrowing just a bit as she studies the young woman. "You're not Pack." Not a question.
The vampire just as easily turns her attention back to the display case, peering at the items inside. It may look as though she has her back to the woman, but really she's positioned at a subtle angle, keeping the girl in her peripheral.
Her gaze falls upon a bracelet; silver if she makes her guess, with small emeralds. "That's lovely."
:::
It hits Mikayla that this Pack must be something serious. Second supernatural to mention it to her recently. Considering the blink and the head canting it's something unusual for there to be a lone wolf in the city.
"No."
An answer is given. No elaboration.
Blue eyes follow the vampire around the shop. Keeping close watch. Kay doubts the woman is a thief. She doesn't carry that demeanor. She should know. Kay's pickpocketed and filched plenty in her young life.
"Grandmother made it."
:::
If the vampire is bothered by the scrutiny, she doesn't show it. It's like Sera said, she really isn't here to make trouble. It would reflect badly on Kieran, and she'd like to stay out of Kostas radar as much as possible. Serafine is still bothered by his impromptu appearance at the book signing. Besides, she's well aware that werewolf blood and sometimes werewolf bites can be problematic for her kind.
"It's a work of art. Finely crafted and well detailed." Serafine would know. She lifts her head, eyes moving around the shop to see if there are any other things that jump out at her as having the same craftsmanship and skill. The vampiress is trying to figure out if the shop is real or simply a wanna be. She could call Bryn, but that would require waiting and the girl might lose her nerve with an unknown vampire long before then.
"Is it spelled?" The answer really doesn't matter. Chances are good Sera will buy it. She can get Bryn to take a look at it after the fact. It's a gamble, but she wants that bracelet. Silver and all.
Sera has made gambles before, for her gallery, so it's not unusual. Except this isn't going to find a home at Galerie Montage.
:::
"No."
The answer is again abrupt. Mikayla takes another step back. She's trying to distance herself from the scent of the vampire enough so that she can treat the woman like any other customer.
"It can be. For a price. Grandmother is not a witch. She knows one though."
Kay looks at the piece very curiously. She knows what silver can do to vampires. This woman isn't the first she's run into.
"You can take it now. Decide later if you wish it spelled."
Beat.
"Or wait until tomorrow evening to pick it up."
:::
"No, it's fine unspelled, I was just curious as to whether or not it was." Serafine touches her fingertips lightly to the glass display case, peering at the bracelet. She doesn't know what it is that attracts her, but she very much wants to possess the piece of jewelry.
"I'll take it now." Looking away from the piece, she turns her attention back to the young wolf girl. "How much?"
:::
"Thirty-four-fifty." Mikayla makes a wide berth around the vampire and to the counter. Sliding her book to the side she glances back at the vampire then sighs.
It's in the glass and she's got to open it.
Pulling a set of keys out of a drawer, she hops over the counter and stops beside the vampire. "When I open the case point out exactly which one and I'll wrap it for you."
Key sets into lock, and she opens the case quietly.
:::
All of the girl's reactions and interactions are observed. Serafine is oddly amused by the girl's actions and avoidance, simply because it would serve little purpose if Serafine were anyone else and wanted to do more than shop. She's not a young neophyte, and she could easily overwhelm the werewolf if she so desired. The vampiress wouldn't even have to use her speed or her strength; her glamour and her siren would be enough to disorient the girl until she could take and do what she wanted.
Extending her arm, Sera points to the bracelet with a well manicured hand. "That one."
:::
Mikayla doesn't figure she could survive against a vampire. Not in a closed up shop. But she could last long enough to keep a vampire from getting upstairs. That's all that matters.
"Don't know why you want the silver one." Not that Kay's trying to talk the vampire out of the sale. "Heard this stuff was hazardous to your health." Lifting it out of the case, she dangles it on two fingers while she closes the glass and locks it back up. Carrying it carefully to the counter, she doesn't set it down until she's got the tissue out, and a box.
Gently wrapping it in the royal blue tissue paper her grandmother insists they use, she tucks it into the logoed jewelry box, and sets it into a dainty little bag. More tissue is added to the top of it, and a business card slipped in.
"Is there anything else you might like to purchase?"
:::
The vampiress gives an almost Chesire cat smile. "I like living dangerously." Again, Serafine doesn't know what caught her attention and held it. It's almost as though the bracelet is spelled, because it isn't something she can wear.
She roams quietly, keeping a covert eye on the girl as she rings up the purchase. There are books, candles, incense and herbs. Some things that perhaps one of the Hecanthenos can use, but nothing that Serafine could, at least not that she can tell.
The question makes her pause and consider. What she would like is a magical spell or crystal ball that will pinpoint the pair of vampires and end this madness once and for all. "No, the bracelet will be fine … unless you have earrings or a necklace to match?" If so, they aren't in the same case with the bracelet.
Beat.
"Romanian?"
:::
The request for the matching pieces causes Mikayla to frown and cock her head to the right. The vampire obviously likes to live extremely dangerously, or has a serious kink for pain.
Reaching into the glass case under the counter she removes the matching necklace. "There are no earrings. If you'd like some we can make a special order for you."
Adding up the new total after wrapping the necklace in the same manner as the bracelet, she slips it into the bag with the other box. "The total is seventy dollars even."
The register pops up with the total.
"Yes." Technically she's American, but she doubts the vampire wants her entire familial history.
:::
If Sera knew what the werewolf was thinking, she'd have a good laugh over it. Mainly becuase she does have a small penchant for a little pain, though nothing that would make her indulge in wearing silver jewelry out and about for hours on end. It's just an odd little thing that's caught her, and she's indulging in the moment.
"No, the necklace and bracelet will be fine. Thank you."
Reaching into her purse, Sera pauses, "Cash, check or charge?"
:::
"Whichever you prefer."
Mikayla hears a footstep overhead that causes her to curse silently. She'd love to be able to just crank the music up a bit louder, but she doesn't want to disturb her grandmother.
"Photo I.D. would be necessary for a check." Not unreasonable. "It is a lovely set. I still don't know why you like it but to each their own."
:::
Serafine pulls out her credit card and hands it over to the werewolf. "I have an eye for …" The vampire trails off, tilting her head and casting her gaze upward. It's with an amused twinkle in her green eyes that she turns her attention back to the young woman behind the counter. " … art and quality art work. The bracelet really is well crafted and unique enough to catch my eye."
Serafine smirks, and it's nearly reminiscent of the playful, predatory, knowing smirk her Maker gives. "Or maybe I just happen to like shiny things even if they're bad for me."
:::
Card taken, Mikayla pulls out the one thing in the shop that's new. The card machine. Sliding it through, she waits for the receipt to print. Once the paper comes out of the manchine with a whirr, she tears it and hands it to the vampire. A pen is slide across the counter.
"Grandmother will appreciate the compliment to her work. I'll let her know." Jenica's work is flawless. She spends hours each day creating her jewelry. Refuses to have mass market pieces in her shop.
"I'm banking on the latter."
:::
Serafine laughs. It's rich and throaty, and sincere without the slightest hint of being faked. "You wouldn't lose any money on that investment."
She signs the sales slip with her usual flowing, rounded signature, 'Serafine Roche,' with a swirling dot over the i and large swooping curves on the R in her surname.
She slides the receipt back across the counter, but not the pen. Instead, she reaches into her purse and pulls out a business card of her own, for Galerie Montage, but that's not the purpose of the card. Flipping it over, she writes in very neat block letters 'Blake Jessup, New Moon Architecture and Design,' followed by a telephone number. It's not Jessup's personal number, but the 800 number to the Architecture firm he's a partner with. Serafine has a mind like a steel trap when it comes to telephone numbers, though she simply doesn't, for obvious reasons, have the Alpha's personal number.
She draws a neat line beneath that, and then adds 'Donald Ashcroft, Dunlop Browning Securities' and a phone number.
The pen and card are slid back across the counter. "I'm not sure how it all works, but you're clearly new in town. You should be able to reach Jessup at that number, but it's not a private line, so I'd be careful. If you'd like to guarantee contact with him, call the second number."
Serafine is certain the wolf has no idea what to make of her, but it doesn't stop her from continuing. "There's something of a detente in the City right now. It makes everything so much easier for everyone."
:::
"Then perhaps I should have made a wager."
Mikayla smirks, taking the receipt and adding it to the book rather than the register. Extra numbers for her to add up before the night's over. Still too hot upstairs. Doing more work down where it's cooler isn't a bad thing.
"Thanks for the numbers?" Yep. It's a question. Kay's not certain that those numbers are a good thing. It'd help if she could talk to another wolf, or ask questions that she really needs to.
Problem is; while the vampire might have the numbers and the answers she likely wouldn't want to talk to her about these things.
Primarily; is it necessary to join a Pack.
"What does a securities company have to do with a Pack?"
:::
"Point of contact, mostly," Serafine explains. It'll be up to Ashcroft if he wants to give more detail or not, if the girl contacts him. "Sometimes, it helps to have a neutral third party to facilitate communication between … groups with differing opinions?"
Beat.
She smiles faintly. "You're welcome." Taking the bag, Sera tucks it neatly into her purse. "We're not all bad, you understand?" There's another pause and she shakes her head, "Though it's probably better to be wary of all of us." Particularly in light of recent events.
:::
"I see."
Actually, she doesn't. It doesn't make sense that a securities company would have anything to do with a group of werewolves. Mikayla palms the card, then slips it into her pocket. She's not sure she should call anyone, or just keep being a lone wolf. She doesn't need anyone's help. She's lasted three years on her own. She's none the worse for it.
"Thanks."
:::
"You're welcome," Serafine nods with another cute little smile. She pats her bag and steps away from the counter. "And thank you for opening the door and trusting me. I do love the bracelet and necklace." So much so that she might see if there is a way to spell them so that the silver isn't harmful to her.
"You have a good night, oui?"
:::
"You as well, mademoiselle." Mikayla may be American by birth, and Romanian by accent, but she spent a great deal of time all over Europe. It's hard to spend time in any country without picking up the basics of the language. Thus, in France, she learned enough French to get by.
"You take care now." The vampire doesn't need to be told to take care. Kay knows this. It's said because it's what one should be saying when another is leaving a shop. Have a nice day is too trite, and nothing else would make sense when dealing with this particular woman.
