That old black magic has me in a spell!

[greenified_life]

WHO: Elphaba {greenified_life}, Zexion {book_of_mirage
WHAT: A discussion of books and sorcery and science...
WHERE: The Pen and Sword
WHEN: Day 123

Comments

sorry for the lateness, I've been suuuper busy

[book_of_mirage]

Zexion looked up from his work at his desk. He'd finally managed, after four months, to fully manifest the Lexicon separately from his journal. When he'd first arrived the book had absorbed the journal, combining the functions into one - not unexpected as the Lexicon adapted itself to situations as needed. At last he had the Lexicon at his fingertips, even if he could no longer unsummon it.
He was working on it when she walked in, examining the pages, trying to determine if there had been any damage to it, if it was still usable.
He looked up when she entered, smiling. "Miss Elphaba, I presume?" he said. "Welcome to my shop."

Re: sorry for the lateness, I've been suuuper busy

[greenified_life]

The sarcastic bit of her wanted to reply, "Do you see any other Green Girls around here?", but her nerves silenced her. She crushed the book even closer.

"Y-yes," she stammered, "Elpaba Tropp."

A few steps inside, a tiny skip entered her step. Books just put Elphaba in a good mood. All of the summers where children would run around in the grass chattering and playing, she was cooped inside, her family's ugly secret. But books never found her ugly. They were happy to let her caress their pages, regardless of the color of her skin. She couldn't help herself. She patted the books as if they were old friends.

A reddish hue came to her cheeks. "Oh...ah- This is a wonderful place..."

Nerves got the best of her and she fidgeted, offering the book with both hands; she didn't want to waste the kind wizard's time.

"Uh, the Grimmerie... you wanted to see it?"

[book_of_mirage]

He found himself truly smiling as she looked at the books, not the false smile he put on for customers, but a genuine, involuntary smile. In most cases he would have buried it, but he didn't want to turn into a bird again and frankly he was pleased. She reminded him so much of Ienzo, the person he'd been when he had a heart, that it almost hurt. She smelled sharply of a freshly sliced green apple, tart and strong, but with a hint of sweetness.

"I am glad you like the shop," he said. "And yes, I'd like very much to see it."

He took it gently, almost reverently with both hands, laying it on the desk. It was a marvelous book, the green color, the pages, he could feel the magic inside it, a tingling sensation in his hands.

"This is beautiful," he said, opening it to the first page. "How did you come across such a lovely thing?"

[greenified_life]

Her dark waves bounced a little as she turned her head away, to hide her blush, though it was obvious on her skin. Her dark eyes glittered with interest at all the books, but she turned her attention to Zexion. Elphaba was a tall girl, and leaned easily over Zexion's shoulder at the Grimmerie's spread pages, which resembled ancient illumination pages.

"It was...given to me, by one of my professors." She stroked the pages lovingly, "It's the last of many of them. Most people at home couldn't make heads or tails of it. I don't even know how I can."

The text resembled many of the archaic roman languages, something akin to Latin and old English and Germanic, all at once, an odd word or two familiar to one language or another, but rather randomly scattered in nonsensical lettering.

"It is beautiful, really. The lettering and illumination detail is just exquisite, and the little creatures creeping around the footnotes and between the paragraphs are just charming."

in which we learn that I actually know nothing about book repair

[book_of_mirage]

He nodded in agreement. A loving hand had transcribed these pages with care. "I can read some of it," he said. "Not well, however. The language... resembles a few that I've studied but in the end seems unique. With time I might be able to discipher some bits and pieces..."

He looked back at her. "So you wish me to do some basic repairs and maintenance?" he asked. "Or is there something else?"

It's okay, neither do I. O_o

[greenified_life]

"That's better than most of Oz." She reassured him,"At least it looks familiar. Maybe it's a mesh of ancient cultures?"

She stroked the Grimmerie fondly like one would pet a cat.

"Just what is necessary to keep it together. I don't want to stress the poor thing with anything extensive."

Elphaba paused and flushed; had she just spoken of the Grimmerie like it was sentient? It was hard not to do, this strange thing resembled a temperamental child with a secret sometimes.

[book_of_mirage]

He nodded. "I'll just do a quick cleanup then, shore up the bindings. It should take me about five days to a week. And..."

He considered. "I think I shall do it free of charge. It would be a pleasure to work on such a fine book as this."

In which Elphabamun is extremely late in tagging

[greenified_life]

She condsidered the cost of such a thing, and marveled, eyes wide. His kindness made her blush.

"Oh..." She breathed, "You are too kind to me."

Out of a nervous habit, Elphaba's fingers where trawling about the tops of the stock items and straightening them, putting them in order, and smoothing them. She had to keep her hands busy; otherwise they were likely to cause mischief.

[book_of_mirage]

Zexion watched her, his face deceptively neutral. Inside, however, wheels were turning.

She reminds me of Ienzo, he thought, talented, brilliant, eager to learn, with a touch of darkness lurking.

"Miss Elphaba, you are still in need of employment, are you not?" he said, suddenly.

[greenified_life]

Her delicate fingers became clumsy and she gave herself a papercut. Curling her hand to hide the cut, she glanced up at Zexion with just her eyes, her hair hanging in her face.

"O-oh... Yes, I am." She made a self-conscious laugh, "I haven't had the best of luck. I sound good enough on paper, but once they see me..."

She offered her green palms wordlessly and shrugged. That was enough to explain.

[book_of_mirage]

"That's ridiculous," he said. "One's appearance has no bearing on one's talents."

"I ask becuase we do still have openings here, if you like. I'd be quite happy to have you, you seem to know your way about when it comes to books. That, and I must admit, it would be nice to speak of magic and science with someone again."