Dr Archeville Posted May 22, 2009 Posted May 22, 2009 Date: Friday, May 15th, 2009 Temp hovering in the upper 50s/low 60s all day. Very humid, but with a light breeze most of the day, interrupted by occasional 20mph gusts; it rained some the night before, so the air smells clean. Darian Cale was walking around Riverside, partly to pass the time, but mostly to seek out new bookstores which might hold some new bit of lore for him. A part of him liked the bohemian, Old World charm of the neighborhood, the small parks and tree-lined streets which reminded him of some of the first places on this world he'd ever visited. The place was filled with young people, students and artists from the nearby universities, and an incredible assortment of bookstores and restaurants. While walking down one of the streets, he came to a building on an intersection which seemed vaguely familiar, a two-story building that could be either a house or a shoppe, or both. The sign hanging on a post jutting out over the door proclaimed it was CURIOUS THINGS, and it hit him: this was the shoppe owned and operated by Jos Terhune, the foreign businessman he'd helped with a gang-related problem many months ago. It appeared moderately busy, as Cale could see through the large front window three people inside looking over some cases.
Sandman XI Posted May 22, 2009 Posted May 22, 2009 Darian tries to walk in without anyone noticing, but the bell on the door prevents that. He hopes he hasn't disturbed any of the customer's thoughts. Quickly moving to avoid any any percieved ruckus he finds himself at a bookshelf. It is very ornate and pleasing to the eye, but Darian cares not for it's prettiness. It could be a few sturdy board as long as what was in it was there: Books. A suprise to Darian, these aren't any ordinary coffee table books, but books in his fields of interest. One thick tome catches his eye, A Treatise On Bioorganic Golem Mechanics And Their Animation. This cannot be real, Darian thinks as he slowly reads through the book as if in reverence, Only seven of these were made. Two were lost to time. Poring through the tome he comes to the realization that everything in the book is legit.
Dr Archeville Posted May 24, 2009 Author Posted May 24, 2009 "Thank you so much for your business, Mrs. Polley," Cale heard -- Terhune was with a customer, a middle aged woman with a young girl. Cale could just see that they'd bought a doll, which Terhune was wrapping up in old newspapers before placing it into a box and the box then into a bag. "Do come again -- both of you!" I do believe that little girl wants to murder that woman. Good for her. I wonder if she'll do it before or after discovering the doll isn't a George Borgfeldt original? Jos had noticed the young man enter, but did not let the newcomer interrupt his transaction. Now that it was done, "good day, young sir! Welcome to my modest shoppe. May I help you with anything?"
Sandman XI Posted May 24, 2009 Posted May 24, 2009 Darian pries his head away from the book to notice Mr. Terhune is talking to him. "Yes sir, I saw this book on your shelf," he says walking towards the counter, book still open, "I must say, you have a very rare book on your hands. May I ask where you found it?" He gently closes the book and puts it on the counter, watching Mr. Terhune with rapt attention.
Dr Archeville Posted May 26, 2009 Author Posted May 26, 2009 "Ah, a fine eye you have, young sir!," he said with a smile, clearly in full Salesman Mode. He stepped out from behind the counter and gently took the book form Cale, "Ah, yes, one of the notebooks of Alfredo da Serravalle, a lesser-known contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci. They say he built up such strength working on his wood and metal inventions that he could unbend horseshoes with his bare hands!" Ah, he found one of the few authentic items I have here. Dumb luck? Or something more? "I won it in an auction a few months ago, while I was away on business. The previous owner had died suddenly. An accident of some sort, I believe while attempting to construct some of the items in that very journal." That's what the cultist who passed it to me said, anyway. He placed the book on a nearby counter, and looked Cale over, "I must say, though, you don't really seem the type who would be interested in these sort of things. What is your interest in this? I may have something more to your liking in the back."
Sandman XI Posted May 29, 2009 Posted May 29, 2009 Darian nods along with the story. The name is correct and a few incidents have been reported fatal if the inventor did not follow the exact instructions in some parts. He doesn't know what Mr. Terhune thinks would interest him. Making a note to himself to ask later, he resolves to get the book now. "I am an inventor myself," Darian reaches into his messenger bag and pull out his PDA, setting it on the counter. Quickly navagiating through the programs he reaches the one he needs. Activating it sends out a beam which opens a small portal. Out of it a tiny robot walks. "This is only the beginning, sir," Darian grins at his own work, "I have much more planned."
Dr Archeville Posted May 30, 2009 Author Posted May 30, 2009 Inventor? No wonder he was drawn to this. He may be useful. Very useful. Jos takes a step back, quite startled at the tiny robot. "Oh, my, my, my! How exquisite! Is this your main area of expertise, robots? Or are you a more general agent of the mechanical sciences? And just what else do you have planned? If it is not something top-secret, that is...." He traced a large S on the notebook with his left forefinger. The man seemed rather pleasant, moreso than Quark remembered from his prior interactions (though that was many months ago, and he was a tad disturbed back then).
Sandman XI Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Darian thinks for a moment. This man does not know me from Einstein, but I know him. Maybe I should be a little forthright. He seems like a nice enough fellow. Looking around to see the two other customers, he then smiles and leans in towards Mr. Terhune, "I could tell you sir, but I would need to be in somewhat of a more private place. Maybe you could show me that thing you wanted to show me before?"
Dr Archeville Posted May 31, 2009 Author Posted May 31, 2009 Ah, now here's a perfect opportunity to start setting the stage. Jos leaned in a bit, "ah, yes, of course, of course. Well..." He looked up at the two customers, then leaned back to Cale, speaking in a lowered tone, "I do not think either of these are truly interested in buying -- they have been milling about for some time, and I think that younger one there is actually looking for a, I believe the phrase is, 'five-finger discount'. But the store lacks sufficient camera coverage, so I cannot just go into the back, because then I could not keep an eye on them." The younger customer he indicated was a young man, early- to mid-twenties, with a pale complexion and greasy black hair. He wore what looked like clothes a Goth had thrown out, and seemed quite nervous; he was at the moment looking over a set of teacups. The other customer, an older woman in powder blue, was admiring a two-foot-tall statue of Cupid set in the shoppe's front window display. "What is that saying? 'Patience is a virtue'?"
Sandman XI Posted June 12, 2009 Posted June 12, 2009 Darian nods and looks to the two customers before looking back to Jos. With a quiet vioce he speaks, "Mr. Terhune, I am curious. How do you usually handle these type of customers? Wait them out? Shoo them off?" He nods inconspiciously back to the greasy kid, "Especially his type."
Dr Archeville Posted June 13, 2009 Author Posted June 13, 2009 Asking what I'd do instead of outright telling me what he'd do? Kid's either polite, cautious, or slow. Jos replied, keeping his voice low, "well, typically, a salesman in this situation would do one of two things. He would either try to shoo the customers out, though in as polite a way as possible so as not to discourage them from coming back to purchase something, or he would start to engage them in conversation, to get a better feel for them and attempt to steer them to make a purchase. Though, in that one's case," he nodded towards the younger man, "a third option -- staying close and keeping one eye on them -- becomes available." "Sadly," he said, "I am woefully understaffed, and cannot do all which I would need to, cannot talk to that woman while maintaining an adequate eye on the younger fellow."
Sandman XI Posted June 24, 2009 Posted June 24, 2009 Feeling butterflies in his stomach, Darian ponders, Is he offering me a job? Is he wanting me to do what he suggested? I am not good at shooing. And I am surely not a salesman. I guess I could watch them. Swallowing his butterflies, he speaks up in his quiet tone to Jos, "I can watch the boy if you want to talk to the lady."
Dr Archeville Posted June 26, 2009 Author Posted June 26, 2009 Terhune nods, then walked over to the older woman at the Cupid statue, maneuvering so he could keep an eye on the two young men. Now to see what sort of person this lad is. The young man shifted a bit when he saw Terhune leave the distant counter, and moved to another small display table. "Ah, Ms. Abernathy, always a pleasure to see you. How are you, my dear? All the cats are well, I trust?"
Sandman XI Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Darian turns ever so slightly to look at the greasy kid, keeping his hand on his purchase behind him. Watching him like a grinning hawk, he wonders what the kid has on his mind or possibly in his hands.
Dr Archeville Posted August 5, 2009 Author Posted August 5, 2009 The lad that Mr. Terhune suggested Darian go keep an eye on dismissed any doubt concerning his punk-status when he glared at the otherdimensional gadgeteer and spat out "Whatchoo lookin' at?" Terhune and the older lady continued to chit-chat.
Sandman XI Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 "Oh I was just admiring the same tea set you are looking at," Darian says with a nervous smile. Picking up his book and clutching it to his chest, he walks over to the kid. Butterflies are fluttering all around in his stomach. He doesn't want to even be near the kid, but his was for science. Greasy punks need not get in the way. "It is a nice tea set. It looks to be Han Dynasty. It is a very interesting find to say the least. Are you looking to purchase it?"
Dr Archeville Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 The teen just barely looks up at Cale, then turns slightly and looks at a different set of items, an array of mugs. He appears to be ignoring you.
Sandman XI Posted August 19, 2009 Posted August 19, 2009 Darian's nervousness is quickly turning into annoyance. The mugs, while nice, don't bear any meaning to the kid. He isn't really trying to scope the place still while someone is watching him, is he? Darian is still worried, but trying to get up the nerve to tell the kid to shoo. "So, you are interested in old teaware, are you," Darian grins hard trying not to lose his cool, "I am sure this very nice construction, eh?"
Dr Archeville Posted August 19, 2009 Author Posted August 19, 2009 The teen continue checking out the mugs, giving no indication he even acknowledges Cale's existence.
Sandman XI Posted August 19, 2009 Posted August 19, 2009 His annoyance builds, but he doesn't want to raise the ire of the greasy kid. Who knows what he has on him? If you can't deal with them nicely, then maybe you have to level with them truthfully. "I hear their has been a string of burglaries around these parts lately.Do you know the penalty forfor being caught in a burglary in this state? Well for what he or she was stealing, it would have to be theft over 5000. Theft over 5000 can get them a maximum of 10 years in prison. Also, it would probably get them looked after some pretty scary supers. You know the one that shoots people? He looks into those type of cases. I would hate to be caught if I were them."
Dr Archeville Posted August 19, 2009 Author Posted August 19, 2009 The teen froze and his eyes went wide: Cale's words evidently struck a nerve. He looks around nervously, then heads for the door; once outside, Cale can see him running down the street. "Well, I am sorry to hear about your string of misfortunes, Ms. Abernathy," Terhune said as he was escorting the woman to the door. "If anyone comes here with your stolen credit cards, I will certainly let you know. Take care, now, and be sure to lock your doors!" As she left, Cale could see Terhune flip the "Open" sign on the door to "Closed," and stick a second, smaller sign (which he could not make out) in the door. Right, now to real business. "Ah, young sir, I see you were able to persuade that would-be crook to leave; splendid! Now, what was it you- ah, yes, the da Serravalle notebook."
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