Bookshop.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

It's week two, and there is a steady rhythm to the people that come and go from the bookshop where Inara has found herself so recently. Sometimes Ivy has her behind the register. That isn't the part that entertains her though.

Watching people. Seeing what books they go for, what stationary supplies they need, what quills and inkpots and everything else they might be looking for appeals to them before they even realize what it is they want. That is why, among other things, Inara can be a very convincing salesperson.

While Ivy is in the stockroom behind the counter wrangling their copies of The Book of Flying Creatures from taking off out the window, Inara is balancing the ledger from the morning in an otherwise empty storefront.

Comments

[scientiaeaquam.livejournal.com]

It was empty, anyway. Now the shop is filled with softly jingling bells and the whoosh of a closing door, not to mention footsteps as a tall, lanky man in black professor robes ducks into the shop and immediately looks toward exactly what he did not come in for.

See, he needs new ink and a quill or two. He just really wants something from the section of New Releases.

He'll figure out exactly which he came in for when he sees it.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"May I help you, Professor?"

It's a light voice that greets him, from the woman in a jewel-tone green dress behind the counter. Inara is not used to wearing robes on a daily basis much anymore, but there is much she will pick up again as she continues to live in Hogsmeade.

[scientiaeaquam.livejournal.com]

There is really something satisfyingly welcoming to come back to a place where people respectfully refer to you by your work title, even miles off the grounds. For that, the perfect stranger gets a pleased smile that has nothing to do with the robes.

Even if she's very, very pretty.

"Just taking a look," he admits, returning his gaze to the wall of newest appearances. "Anything interesting?"

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

A careful shrug. Don't want to appear too presumptuous.

"That depends on what you might be looking for. Are you interested in something for personal or professional enjoyment?"

All the while, Inara is coming out from behind the counter, presumably to help him investigate the selection.

[scientiaeaquam.livejournal.com]

He frowns for a moment, pondering this question, then shrugs while still examining the spines.

"Well, if one isn't the other, I'm definitely in the wrong profession."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"You might be right!" Chuckling behind a hand, Inara nods enthusiastically. "You might be right indeed. What professor is truly inspiring who doesn't love his work?

"Unfortunately, now I have to guess what subject you might teach."

[scientiaeaquam.livejournal.com]

He looks at her again, amused by her humor enough to grin back, friendly and open. "Well, you could. Or you could ask and be told. No one ever guesses on the first try."

Something about not being nearly mysterious, somber, or broody enough for it.

Or even remotely serious enough.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"Hmm."

Inara drags two fingers down her chin as though pondering the meaning of life. There are many factors to consider, after all.

"If you are the person I remember you being, I would peg you for...Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

[trickswithsticks]

The short blonde lady is humming as she wanders in, two false eyes rotating wildly as they wonder where to fix on next. Her feet, however, have a pretty sure purpose, and she ends up standing by the quills. Looking at the quills isn't a fair assessment, though. She's looking at everything.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Certainly a newcomer to the store since Inara started working here.

"Might I help you, ma'am? We have some lovely inkpots now just come in from Flourish and Blotts own distributor."

[trickswithsticks]

"Ah," Leah turns her head to face the woman, and for a few seconds with some effort, makes both her eyes focus on her at once. "I'm good for inkpots, ta.

"How're the spelling quills doing these days? I remember the charms being dead quick to wear off."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Inara winces. "I'm still not too big of a fan of the ones that we get in? I can give you a little trick I like to use though, if you're interested."

Contrary to the offered statement, Inara continues without really waiting for prompting by reaching behind the counter and pulling out a vial which rattles with the silver nibs inside it.

"Instead of putting the charms on the quills themselves, I've switched over to using separate nibs when I need a little extra help in my orthography. Little less ephemeral; easier to recharge."

[trickswithsticks]

"I really should of thought of that," Leah says, snapping her fingers as she understands. "And they can be recharged, at that. Easier to switch between for subjects, so I don't get an earful from my colleagues who reckon they're cheating."

She's looking through the closed box at the nibs inside. "They're a little high end for students, though. Can we go a level lower?"

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Manicured fingernails drum lightly against the vial in thought. "I wonder...one moment?"

Inara walks back into the storeroom where Ivy's still working and returns with a jar of what look like Muggle pencil grips.

"Somewhere in the middle between the nibs and charming the quills themselves," she explains, holding a couple of them out in her hand.

[trickswithsticks]

"That'll probably do," Leah says cheerfully. Just to be sure, she grabs one of the grips and holds it up, looking at it with first one eye, then the other, than both.

"You stick them around the quill, yeah? I remember them from learning to write in Muggle school."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

It's the first moment where Inara looks distracted by Leah's eyes, but it passes quickly in order to answer.

"Yes. They take some getting used to, but especially with younger students it might help with their penmanship as well."

[veneficusvenato]

Jo doesn't come in with any fanfare. Not here. She's carrying a basket, this is her third shops she's stopped in this morning. And she spent a second looking like she was considering whether to come in.



And now she is. Quietly.

The bells barely sounding.



She didn't look toward the Shop Mistress or the the books, but began by perusing the shelves nearest to her. Wandering through what the newest store had to offer.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

The shelves right by the door usually display the newest arrivals in the shop. When Inara looks up and sees the customer in the store, she calls, "Our fiction selection starts where you are and continues down the left wall, which gets you to our non-fiction and potions selections. Let me know if you have anything you're searching for."

[veneficusvenato]

It's quiet and it's early. And what's she's looking for won't be on a shelf -- because she's already found it. But she walks down the shelves scanning the spines of books.

Pausing while looking at certain pens, and colored holders of ink.

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

It doesn't do a salesperson any good to hound the customers. One of the unique features that are usually common to bookstore customers is that - every once in awhile - they enjoy their privacy while they make their selections.

That doesn't mean that Inara isn't paying attention to the blonde as she walks through, in between debits and credits on the ledger.

[veneficusvenato]

Jo gathered some things. Parchment, a new pen, a set of small floating notes, which change colors the closer you get to when something has to be done. She happens to take her time walking around areas.

Finally getting toward the spot where Inara is.

"Do you happen to sell ledgers?"

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

"We do. I can show you some of my favorites, or I can walk you upstairs if you prefer. We don't get much call for ledgers, to be honest, so they get kept in the loft," Inara points to the stairs to her right that lead up to what appears to be only a few mismatched bookshelves up top.

[veneficusvenato]

Upstairs. Yes.


Jo thought about it for a while.

"All of that sounds fine to me."

[veloxepistola.livejournal.com]

Inara nods and elects to show off a couple of the balance sheet ledgers that the store keeps in stock. With a lift of her wand, Inara silently pulls three books down from over the loft bannister to float to a stop in between her and the customer.

"The one I like best out of the bunch is this -- " Inara holds out a leather-bound A4 binder, " -- because there are no charms in it for accounting purposes whatsoever. I like to do the math myself.

"The other two are quite useful, though. One does your basic math for you, adding and subtracting and getting your sums for the day, and the other goes a step beyond that and will help with keeping track of what bills are coming around the bend. Might be useful for the tavern?"

[leavsfrmthevine.livejournal.com]

The latest customer might be a difficult read in only that he keeps pausing to study many different subjects. Maybe he's browsing or maybe he has a big list?