Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 23, 2012 1:33:33 GMT -5
Another day, another dollar. Or Varnock would like to say that at least. He hasn't been getting as many customers as usual recently and that was starting to bother him. He had gotten down to fiddling with some of the antiques he hadn't managed to prep for sale to Sleepers, and he almost never had time for that before now. The wind chime he was working with summoned up greater little gusts of wind every time it sounded until it was making the most ungodly racket he had ever heard. Took three hours of sitting in a book to silence the thing before he could take it back out to try sealing whatever was causing it away.
Ellen was pawing at the dangling end of the wind chime with a bored expression. Even she had run out of things to do other than go wander the city again, and even that was starting to get a bit boring. This town was supposed to be full to the brim with Wakers, but nothing exciting ever seemed to happen! Much more of this and she might go mad with boredom.
Varnock sighed and hung the wind chime up in the corner to hang from a large shelf with little decorative sections carved out that made for a perfect place to hook things like this onto. With that his work was finished again and he was left without anything to do once again other than sit at the counter and read until someone entered the shop.
Post by Damaris Montford on Dec 23, 2012 19:54:00 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]Damaris bit her lip and carefully examined the map in her hands. She was used to living in a big city, but even after a year here, New York was very different from home. Her family's large house in downtown San Francisco, the knowledge that everyone she knew and loved was a heartbeat away; all of that was gone here. Not that New York was a cold city, in terms of people, but it was still a strange place, and she was a foreigner here. Both she and the city were aware of that.
Hence her insistence on checking and then double-checking the location on the map against the storefront she was standing outside. One of her cousins had mentioned the place to her when she had complained over Thanksgiving break about still not being able to find a strong Waker community aside from Mu Omega, but it was only now that she had worked up the nerve to visit. Midtown East was quite a way off from her usual haunts, but now that classes were out and final exams were over, she really had no excuse.
One last glance, and she shoved the crumpled map in her coat pocket, stepped forward, and opened the door. She assumed a Waker shop would be warded to alert the owner whenever someone entered, but there was no need to be rude, so: ”Hello,” she said. ”Am I at Acerbi's Antiques?”[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 238 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 23, 2012 20:17:33 GMT -5
Varnock looked up from the book he was reading as his ward went off to alert him to a customer. Someone who was looking for the place specifically if the bit of map poking out of her pocket was any indication. Well this was certainly a pleasant surprise. Not many people actually knew the name of his little shop if they had never been here before after all. Maybe he had been recommended by someone? All the same he smiled and pushed his book aside as Ellen watched with her intelligent eyes off to the side of the counter.
"You are indeed miss and I welcome you to my fine establishment. Judging by your map and prior knowledge of my fine shop, you were recommended by someone. Mind telling me who so I can thank them next I see them?" Ellen held back a laugh. It was clear her master was just ecstatic that someone had finally recommended his shop to someone else. It was pretty funny to her really.
She wondered how he had picked out the map of all things when looking at the girl, but passed it off as his affinity for paper of all things. Ellen was a bit disappointed originally with the powers her master showed, but he was quick to prove her wrong about paper being a flimsy thing when used correctly.
Post by Damaris Montford on Dec 24, 2012 20:49:21 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]Her hand went to her pocket, hovering over the map automatically as he spoke.
”Um,” Damaris started eloquently. ”I'm not from around here, actually, I was at home over Thanksgiving break from college and when I complained that I still haven't really met any other Wakers in the city, he told me about this place and he said he got the name. I don't know his friend's name, I'm afraid, but my cousin is Johnathan Montford, of the California Montfords. I don't know if you would have heard of us over here, but we're a bit of a Waker dynasty on the West Coast. Very boring, in truth.”
She picked her way over to where Varnock was and offered him her hand.
”It's very nice to meet you. My name is Damaris. And I'm very pleased to meet you as well,” she offered to Ellen.[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 145 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 24, 2012 23:10:56 GMT -5
Varnock blinked for a moment and smiled widely. He had hoped she would be a Waker since she actually knew about his shop, but someone who was actually important? Sure he hadn't heard of them, but this was still pretty nice. He took the hand with his smile still present and with a flash of his eyes he kissed the back of the hand rather than shaking it. "My name is Varnock and my familiar here is Ellen. The pleasure is all mine. I'm sorry to say I wasn't aware of a magus dynasty in the Americas. My own family is famous in Europe though if you've heard of us."
Ellen nodded her head silently as Varnock indicated her. It was nice to have a Waker coming out to them rather than having to dance around like usual. "Nice to meet you Damaris. Do you mind if I ask about your family? I don't know much about magical families outside of Varnock's."
Varnock nodded at that. He was curious too, actually. "I am quite interested in learning a bit about your family. Would you like to come up for some tea or maybe go get some lunch?"
Post by Damaris Montford on Dec 25, 2012 14:01:12 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]Damaris blinked for a moment, and then smiled broadly, withdrawing her hand once Varnock had finished with his, er, kiss.
”I don't mind talking to you two about my family at all,” she said. ”I don't think we're very interesting, to be honest, but anything you want to know, I'm game to tell. I haven't heard of your family, I'm sorry, but my family is rather ah—self-absorbed, so it doesn't surprise me. I'd hate to take you away from your store, however, are you sure it isn't a burden? I don't want to cause you to lose any customers.”[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 238 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 25, 2012 15:25:48 GMT -5
Varnock shook his head with a small smile. "Well if we go upstairs for tea I can always just come down when someone walks in. I can go ahead and close the shop for a bit anyways. No one would really notice I'm sure." He shrugged and left the choice up to you.
Ellen had her own bit to add in of course. "If my vote counts I say we stay here. I love going out whenever possible, but I don't think many restaurants will let me inside. You know how most sleepers are about that." Varnock could only agree. He got stares just from having Ellen follow him through town, and plenty when she sat on his shoulder.
Post by Damaris Montford on Dec 27, 2012 12:13:32 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]”Tea sounds lovely then,” Damaris said. She smiled somewhat sympathetically at Ellen. ”I can imagine,” she said. ”I don't have a familiar of my own yet, but when my eldest sister first summoned hers, he came in the form of a rather oversized squid. Navigating with him was ah, very taxing at first for her.”[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 55 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 27, 2012 15:41:13 GMT -5
He let out a small laugh at the thought of a large squid in place of Ellen as she jumped onto his shoulder. "I think I can be rather happy about how Ellen turned out then. I was considered the runt of family magically for some time you see." He motioned you behind the counter and opened the door behind him to lead the way up the stairs to his apartment.
It was a bit messier than the last time he had had company. Books were still everywhere, just a bit more of everywhere. There was a clear path around the table and only one of the four chairs was taken up by books. He gave a small sigh and started clearing things off the table with a quick thought to return them to his mind as he worked his way over to the kitchen to start preparing the tea.
Ellen spoke up from the place she had taken at the table as Varnock fruitlessly searched for the good tea once more. "You're family practices summoning then? From what I've seen a lot of magi now a days have forsaken familiars for more 'practical' magics." The laugh from her showed what she thought of their 'practical magics'.
Post by Damaris Montford on Dec 28, 2012 3:56:55 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]Damaris waited politely for Varnock to clean the table before taking a seat across from Ellen, crossing her legs with her hands folded in her lap.
”My family plays a bit loose and fast with any idea of traditional magic,” Damaris replied. ”It might be a West Coast thing, honestly. All that California sun makes you loosen up. The two eldest children, as both the direct heir to the main branch of the family, and the second heir, are expected to maintain stricter levels of study and training than the rest of us, but even they aren't particularly guided into one area or another. My eldest sister is the heir, and she was allowed to do whatever felt natural for her, as long as she did it well. Hence her summoning of a familiar, even if most people don't indulge in that type of magic these days. My oldest brother, the second heir, focuses more on hex magic, manipulating chance and luck.
“I'm lucky that my family is so laid-back, honestly. I'm the fifth child, barely in consideration for control of the main branch because even if, Zeus forbid, something happened to the heirs, there's quite a few people still in line between me and the head of the family. That's why I was able to attend college across the country at NYU, rather than being confined to a California school.”[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 232 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 28, 2012 15:55:44 GMT -5
There came a sound of success from the kitchen as Varnock located the tea and began making it for himself and his guest. He spoke up a few moments later with a small chuckle. "Sounds rather nice all things considered. I'm second in line for my family with my brother the ahead of me. I worry about the guy sometimes though. He sticks to the 'vampires are evil and must be hunted' motto. My family focuses in Warding though so my time was mostly focused on that. Or they tried to focus me on that at least. I had my own knacks for magic that I took up even with them trying to make me learn Summoning and Assault as well. Ellen here is all I could ever manage of summoning, but assault I'm actually advancing in again."
Ellen's ears twitched for a moment as something caught her attention. She wasn't aware people still worshiped the Greek pantheon. "Zeus? The highest of the Greek gods? I didn't know anyone still followed that pantheon, especially not in America. Ah but you have me curious now about what magic you study with such a laid back family."
Varnock brought the finished tea over and placed a cup in front of Damaris and one in front of his own chair before sitting down. "I hope you don't mind green tea. We don't have that much else at the moment. I have to say that your family sounds like a lot more fun than mine though." He made a note to go pick some more tea up as soon as possible.
Post by Damaris Montford on Dec 29, 2012 6:14:04 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]Damaris' eyes flashed with interest as Varnock spoke, and she leaned forward slightly in her chair, propping her elbows on the table.
”I have to admit, I don't know much about vampires,” she said. ”Most of my first hand experience is with other magi, sorcerers and weres. There was a werewolf pack who used to run just outside the city that my father was well acquainted with, and I had my interactions with them, but aside from that--” She spread her hands, palm up, in the universal symbol of “what can you do?” ”I never really got a chance to see anything else. Our house was always warded against the Fae, and my parents were hardly going to let me trawl through San Francisco's underworld looking for a demon, much as I might have wished it. Here though, things can be different.
“I specialize in Warding magic as well,” she said, raising the tea cup to her mouth and blowing on it gently before taking a tip. ”And I don't mind green tea at all, thank you so much. I haven't gotten the chance to try and study anything else yet, I've been so busy with school, but Assault magic sounds so fun, honestly.”
She turned to face Ellen next.
”My family worships the Greco-Roman pantheon, yes,” she said. ”It is quite uncommon, you're right, but my great-great-great-grandfather on my mother's side was the one who first brought magic to our family, and allegedly he learned of it after an encounter with Apollo, so.” She shrugged. ”I'm not as fervent as my father, perhaps, but I believe. I don't know how I couldn't.”[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 275 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Dec 30, 2012 4:18:58 GMT -5
Varnock raised an eyebrow in curiosity. A pack of Weres lived nearby? He wasn't aware of that before now. As for not seeing any Demons or Fae... It was probably for the best. There were always nice ones, but the majority were strange even by magical standards. Some were downright evil as the many legends might imply. "I only know what I've read on Vampires or what I have learned during conversation with them. Three have visited my shop now with one of them becoming a regular. Maybe you can tell me more about the pack that is nearby? I like to know what I may have to deal with in the future. As for Demons and Fae... I would avoid them if possible. There is good reason your home was warded against them."
He raised his other eyebrow to join its brother and shook his head with a smile. Well wasn't that just a pleasant coincidence? Someone else who practiced Warding would be an invaluable partner to talk with. "Maybe we can compare notes on Warding at some point then? I'm sure we can learn from each other since we are both specialized in the craft. As for Assault... It isn't all its cracked up to be. A lot of that branch of magic can really take it out of you, or they require some odd reagent to work well. I focus in ice and require crazy amounts of water to keep it a viable option in a fight."
Ellen cocked her head curiously. A meeting with Apollo? She had heard rumors of Deities walking the earth, but the hear what might be proof was surprising. "You say 'allegedly'. Do you not believe it happened? I can't really talk much about Deities with Varnock since he claims to be agnostic. I hope you don't mind me asking though."
Post by Damaris Montford on Jan 2, 2013 11:40:42 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, width:400px;,bTable][classy=sc][classy=text]"O-oh no," Damaris said. "That pack is across the country! At home, I meant, I'm sorry. That's probably why you haven't heard of them...some of the other Wakers at my school, they talk about a wolf pack, and there's some weird weretiger bounty hunter running around apparently, but I don't know any more than that.
"Um, I believe it probably happened, but the story of what actually went down gets more and more elaborate at each telling, that's all. He probably just passed Apollo in the street--or pissed him off, that's more likely. But I guess that doesn't make for a very good family myth. Varnock doesn't believe in the gods, though? I mean, it isn't unknowable, they exist no matter what you do. Not worshiping them, I understand though. It isn't for everyone."[/classy][/classy][classy=icon][/classy][classy=notes]WORDS. 275 TAGS. varnock NOTES. "i fell in love again. all things go, all things go."[/classy]
Post by varnock acerbi on Jan 2, 2013 15:48:26 GMT -5
Across the country? Well that information wasn't exactly useful then... a bounty hunter and a pack may be around though? That certainly sounds interesting. "A bounty hunter? I didn't know we had many of those running about the city... Can you tell me more? I ask since they often impede me when I am attempting to get my own jobs."
Ellen laughed at that one. Pissing off a god and getting magic for it? Sure, why not? They always were portrayed as fickle beings in the myths and legends after all. "He believes in a higher power, but not any specific god. He is quite aware that random deities are wandering around the city from his time here. They just don't seem like the true power behind things to him."
Varnock sighed at the conversation. He hated talking about religion. "Have you visited the Agency yet? They might be able to help you meet with more Wakers around the city if you want."
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