Little Shop of Horrors {Open}

[Toril Ragna Petra]

She sat by the fireplace and listened to the crackling of the wood while she poured over an ancient tome. The pages of the book were yellow and cracked at the edges, stained with time and poor care. The book would never see a drop of water or coffee or tea, or anything that would harm it, while under Toril's care. She read the words with great care, defining each one before she moved onto the next. The process was slow, but relaxing. Without interruption, she would finish the book by nightfall. The early morning hours promised cool air and not much business for her--the perfect time to make a cup of hot tea, start a fire, and read in her favorite chair in the lounge. In the event someone did come, she wouldn't bother with them until they stood by the register awkwardly and looking around. Toril was not the best at customer service, especially since this shop was more of her private collection area.


The further she read the sooner it came time for her to begin to re-copy the book. As the chapter approached, she got her pend and pencil, and opened the large leather-bound book to the next empty page--and began to copy every word. Carefully, lovingly, she wrote in the new version so she could always have a copy of this tome. While this old one may be sold, nothing could take away all of her books. Not even a fire. She would be sure of it. The fire was the only noise, offering the gentle white noise that floated through the tall book shop. The sound relaxed her, and her Froslass side. So peaceful. The town was even quiet, thankfully.


She looked up from the book and stared at the door, before she let her gaze fall. Her ghost side had detected something. Shortly after the little bell attached to the door jingled and the door closed. Someone had entered her shop. Toril didn't look up, she didn't want to. She was busy.

--

@anyone

[Raphael Deluna]

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Raphael didn't particularly mind the human lands, as the three kingdoms went. It certainly beat the realm of the Dark Ones. The emptied out buildings and abandoned cities brought back some rough memories, sure, but at least it was a relatively peaceful place. He certainly didn't mind Sunset Town in the slightest- he'd considered setting up shop here, for a time, as its kind nature toward refugees had appealed to him. He'd eventually decided that they didn't need him, though, and thus had moved on. (It didn't have anything to do with the proximity to the ruins of Ember, not at all. Being unnerved by the ghosts of memories was just ridiculous.)

He still liked to visit, though. It was nice to be among like-minded individuals, and he enjoyed helping them out with their rebuilding efforts whenever he got the chance. This was one of the few places in the region that managed to seem somewhat normal, and the domesticity was beyond comforting. They even had a street with little shops, and that was where Raphael found himself this fine morning. He had little to offer in return for any of these goods, but it was nice to browse, and he never knew when he might come across someone helpful.

He was surprised to see a cozy little bookstore nestled between the buildings- were they really so comfortable as to be able to afford the luxury of reading?- but it was certainly an important part of preserving the culture of Before, and he was glad someone had taken up the call of such a noble cause. Curious, he entered the shop, jumping a bit at the bell that chimed before smiling somewhat abashedly at himself and wandering into the shop.

It really was a lovely place. He trailed his fingertips gently over the shelves, inhaling deeply at the age-old scent of ancient tomes. Mmm. Yes, he was glad that this place existed, if only to keep the secrets of the past from dying out entirely. Most children these days didn't even remember the time before the war- and oh, didn't that make him feel old? Heh. 

There was a woman sitting near the back, deeply engrossed in some sort of work, and he watched her for a few moments before wandering in her direction. "H-hello." He hummed, drawing up next to her and peering sedately over her shoulder at her work. "Quite a collection, thisss place has. Isss it y-yours?"

Toril Ragna Petra

[Toril Ragna Petra]

Her Pokemon were more interested in the visitor than Toril was. The Golbat Dory looked from her perch and let out a giant smile and a gleeful shrill, flying from one make-shift perch to another to watch the stranger. Perhaps they could be good friends? Banshee the Shedninja just floated by the cash register silently, staring at nothing. Grace the shiny Finneon was also not interested in the visitor and swam in her fish tank, a travel bowl sitting right beside it.

Toril turned a page, listening to the stranger's movements with half an ear. It was when he spoke did she stop copying the book. She allowed her eyes to travel up towards him. Purple hair, pale skin, and a certain look about him. He was probably a Gijinka. Without answering, she carefully closed the copy and then the original, placing both on a table beside her next to a hot cup of tea. She made sure they were secure before she stood up and smiled. "Yes, they are. Thank you." She held out a hand. If he decided to shake in greeting, then Toril hoped he wouldn't seem scared of her very cold body temperature. Too many people had, it was getting annoying.

"The tomes here are ancient," she continued with her hand ready for a greeting. "Feel free to poke around them. Can I interest you in tea?" Luckily for this man her freezer was full. Banshee moved and then took a small interest in the other Gijinka, but it soon faded and he went to slowly floating around in a circle for no reason. Dory stayed on her other perch, which was the back of another cozy chair. Her smile large and welcoming.

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Raphael Deluna