Magic Box, Sunday, 03/22

[not_every_mage]

Anders got to the shop a little later than he did on most Sundays, and more haphazardly groomed. It was hard to think about things like jobs and toothbrushes and combing your hair when everything you ever dreamed of was held so neatly in the palm of your hand. It took a lot of mental struggle to make himself leave his dorm room and go to work;

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[angelo_wings]

She heard it. She heard it. A few days ago she hadn't heard anything, she had just been absorbed into the book, but something had changed. Because the book was too valuable. She knew it now.

The book kept talking about secret notes, and hiding messages, and being watched. Sorceresses were watched. Nobody trusted them, and nobody trusted their books. So she had started jumping at every noise in the store, every time something called her away from the book.

Was it Squall? Was he sneaking in again? She was going to box his ears if he was. Wait, he might have brought food, if he did come back, and she liked food.

She peered out of the back office with narrowed eyes, before spotting who it was who was IN HER STORE. Oh! Anders. Right! Right, he worked here. He was one of her students.

He was probably not here to take away her book. Right?

"Hi," she said. She might have felt sheepish, if she wasn't still halfway convinced he was up to something.

[not_every_mage]

Anders almost jumped out of his skin at the voice before he realized it was Rinoa, Rinoa who owned the place and had magic herself and almost certainly wasn't in league with Cassandra.

He thought. His hands would stay close to the amulet while they talked, anyhow.

"Hi," he returned, cautious. "You normally aren't here Sundays."

[angelo_wings]

Sunday? It wasn't Sunday, was it? ... Maybe it was. She hugged her book closer to her chest and eyed him suspiciously.

"I like it here," she said, defensively. "No one comes into the back room."

Unlike her house, full of people who kept trying to talk to her.

"Is the store open?"

Please say no, Anders! Customers sounded like they'd be nosy.

[not_every_mage]

Anders scrunched up his nose, as much at the question as at the obvious suspicion. ".... yes?" he said, hoping that was the right answer. "Only, I left the door locked. It sounds from radio as though there's a lot to worry about on the island lately. I put a sign so people will know to ring the bell if they need us."

[angelo_wings]

"Good thinking," she said, quickly. "We can't be too careful. This store is full of priceless treasures. With thieves about, we'd be an easy target."

Had she said too much? Did he guess now that the book she was holding was valuable? She should cover, try to be more natural.

"Though I suppose I'm being a bit paranoid," she said, trying to sound like she was laughing it off. Ha ha, really. "Fandom's a nice town. You can trust people here."

Usually.

[not_every_mage]

"You can," Anders agreed. "Most people, anyhow. But it only takes one person out to ruin it for everyone for things to get bad."

He forced a laugh of his own. "Now look at me being paranoid, too. Anyhow, I think the store is safe."

[angelo_wings]

"Of course it is," she said, a shade too quickly. "Why wouldn't it be? You locked the door."

And they were the only two in here. She totally trusted him. Really.

"So, I was just going to -- go back," she said, gesturing vaguely. "I'm doing important research. It might help with -- what's going on."

She was only vaguely aware that something was going on. Squall had mentioned something, blahblahblah, she tried not to listen when he talked. But her research was important anyway, so it was a well-intentioned lie.

[not_every_mage]

"Oh, with the -- plants and animals and everything?" Anders asked, trying to sound as interested as he knew he should be. "Let me know if you find anything. It seems to have a lot of people all upset."

Mainly, he wanted to find a solution so Nathan and Karla would stop worrying and leave him in peace with his phylactery.