2018.07.13: Buying Books

Buying Books
Lleutrim shows up at a bookstore looking for something to read.
IC Date	Friday Jul 13th
IC Time	10:13:42 2018, PDT.
Players	Lleutrim, Lilian
Location	Feather of Maat Bookstore
Spheres	Mortal, Mortal+

Feather Of Maat - Book Store

Entering this bookstore is like entering another world. The busy streets and rundown buildings are left behind while the senses are filled with the otherworldly decor inside. The store isn't bright. Shades and stained glass windows ensure that what sunlight enters the space is diffused and colored. Exotic incense rises in the cool air of the shop.

Scattered about are tables filled with stones, charms, amulets, herbs and wands. From the merchandise standing on the long, thick legged wooden tables, its clear that the store caters to students of the occult. To oneside, a small, open office has been set up with a computer and cash box. Towards the back of the room, a circle of chairs surround a small table. A set of stairs leads to a larger loft in the back where rows of books can be seen standing in tidy row

---

Lilian is at the main desk with a lap top open, several note books and an older book in another Language she has been working on with pens on each note book, and pencils in reach in the cup. Seems she is working on translating a portion of it, then she hears the door and looks up, "Oh hi if you need some help just ask."

There may or may not be a bell to jingle when the door opens but a man steps in. Tallish, fit, suntanned and wearing a Prospect Police Department uniform. The Patrol Car is parked on the street right out front. Lleutrim reaches up a hand to remove his cover and then his ballistic shades once he's closed the door. His grey eyes skim once over the establishment to note exits, layout, who's in here and what they are doing - and so his gaze lingers upon Lilian. A soft up nod, "Ma'am." Sunglasses are tucked into a pocket and the hat is put underneath his left arm as he starts to look around. "I love bookstores and I keep meaning to stop by and have a look." It does smell funny in here so he wrinkles his nose faintly. Donnachaidh steps away from the door once his eyes have adjusted to the dimmer light.

Lots of trinkets of various kinds in here. The Patrol Officer stops at the first table and looks at all of the various things laid out carefully that aren't books, "Eh, what sort of things are these?"

Lilian says, "Stuff for new agers and Tourists we sell alot of that, Our real things are our books and the translations services we offer."

Lilian says, "The small is the incense from upstairs."

Now he's come away from the light pouring in through the windows, Lilian can see he has bruises on his face where his nose as been broken in the past day or two. There's also a light bandage around the palm of his left hand. Lleu picks up and examines a stone and then carefully sets it down. "Translation service? You have historical books or documents?" She's perked his interest now.

Lilian nods, "Books, anything really and are you ok, you look quite mangled, and I have some coffee brewed and hazelnut creamer if you want." as she puts her pen down and marks her place with care, then takes off the white gloves she was wearing for the old book.

Lleutrim smiles a little, "I'm all right. Coffee would be nice - and I'm happy to pay for a cup. Strong, black." He sets his cover on the counter and keeps looking around. "I especially like to read history, some science fiction, Celtic and Norse myths and sagas, among other things." The left hand he is using so it can't be bothering him much.

Lilian moves to get some in a medium togo cup "Well here and no charge it is just for niceness really." as she looks at him, "We are mostly occult books, with some history, and Anothpology and Archeology. There are allot of good stores in town, and I can order other things if you do not mind waiting for them on 2 day shipping the standerd now."

The coffee cup is accepted, "Thanks. That is nice of you." Lleu's cautious with it as it may be very hot but he takes a sip. "Occult? What does that mean exactly?" The police officer thinks about it a moment, "A book like 'Beowulf and Grendel', that is an explanation of Odinism vs an older fertility cult, the use of ergot in religion, the sacrefice of bog bodies and the like. Would that sort of thing be considered 'occult'?"

Lilian nods, "It would and I do have books like that and also other cultures myths, legends, and such. We also have books on some of the cults of world war two as well, then allot on guides and historical references for more, some primers on the "crafts" too."

Lleutrim gives a small nod in turn, "Well, if you have that 'Beowulf and Grendel' book, I might like to buy it. I read it years ago and thought it very interesting." He grimaces, "I ... just moved to Prospect a few weeks ago and I didn't bring much with me so I need to slowly rebuild a library."

Lilian says, "Ahh, well we do carry it, do you want the English translation with notes, the German version, or the older language spoken to the region they now call Norse?"

Donnachaidh shakes his head, "No, I have more than one translation of 'Beowulf' already. I mean the book called 'Beowulf and Grendel' by the Brittish academic and author, John Grigsby. The original Beowulf poem wasn't written in old Norse anyway, it was in Old English."

Lilian just smiles and nods as he clarifies, "You do know your stuff, as she guides him to an area, "John Grigsby, ahh here." pulling it up, then handing it to him with a smile and no Argument, "We really so have one will all sorts of notes like printed ones in English as well a copy in German." then with a grin, "Allot of students ask for the one with the side notes."

The officer moves to follow her, "So many things I don't know. I'm no expert. I've merely had a fascination with the Beowulf poem since I was a kid. But a lot of it /does/ draw from old Norse tales of similar but different figures." The book is accepted and the coffee cup carefully set down so he doen't spill anything. Lleu looks it over, "Yes, this is it, thank you. I hear he also wrote a book called 'Wasteland Warriors' about the pagan beliefs that influenced the Arthurian tales concering the Holy Grail. Do you have that one as well?" Lilian gets a slight smile out of him again, "I'm afraid I can only read English, though I've always wanted to learn both Scots and Irish Gaelic."

Lilian nods, "We actually do have that one, and I do have it in English as well. There are parts that are quoted from older references in Middle English, but it is explained it real well." as she gets it for him. "Most some in here for our middle eastern and Gaelic selections. You are a breath of fresh air here."

The Patrol officer nods, "I can muddle my way through Middle English all right. Old English though is harder for me, it being very close to old Friesian." Lleu would laugh maybe if he wasn't having such a bitch of a month. He smiles a little though, looking tired with shadows beneath his eyes - or that may be more bruising from his busted nose. "Thanks. I'll take them both." His leather wallet he pulls out. It is tooled with the USMC logo and the credit card he produces is a USAA bank for vets. "I like reading about the Middle East as well, having served a few places there. So perhaps I'll be back later for more books, thanks."

Lilian nods and takes the card does the whole pay for it then, then gets him a bag for his book, "It is an amazing place seen some amazing things, but the changes for travel, safe zones, politics makes it harder all the time ti visit there." as she hands him the Bag, "Some of my friends in Eygpt really mourn losing allot of the freedoms they had there before with the well, stricter religious attitudes."

"Understood. I got to go to Egypt recently as an official observer of the elections this year. Things are getting better there with the new government but you still have to be very careful about travel in the country." Lleu drinks the coffee while she rings up his charge for the books. His VISA lists the name of 'Lleutrim R Donnachaidh' and it goes through just fine. "The Philippines though... used to be able to travel in the southern islands with care, but it's just too dangerous now. Never saw islands so beautiful."

When Lilian has completed the sale, Lleu finishes off the coffee and collects the bag, "Thanks for the help as well as for the coffee, ma'am." The Patrol cover is picked up but he won't put his uniform hat on his ballistic shades back on until Lleu's stepped out the door.