undergrounds | Darkness and the City

1. At Work
The bookshop that Wednesday works in is not so much as shop as it is a storage place for the owner's rather extensive collection of books. Since said owner is rather loathe to part with any of his precious collection, having Wednesday as a member of staff works quite well, as for some odd reason people are rather reluctant to make a purchase from her. So instead, she works on arranging the shelves, keeping them in good order and adding new items as and when they arrive.

Today, she is concentrating on the occult section, idly leafing through one of the books she is trying to arrange. The information isn't half bad - the author actually seemed to understand what it was they were talking about and she would smile if that was something she did. A ring of a bell drew her attention - the door had been opened.

"Do you require assistance?"

2. Market Time
It's her day off, and this is really one of the first times Wednesday has been able to look at some of the many markets London has to offer. She doubts that the mystic stall she passed has anything of real value, but there are some things that could possibly be used. The antiques interest her a little more, though sadly there's no weaponry. She hadn't been able to bring some of her favourites from the manor because of airport security rules and she found she was missing them. She'd need to see about finding a proper smith.

Still, it is rather fun, to wander about the market with no real purpose in mind. Even if people do keep muttering 'goth' when they see her dark parasol. She's going to curse the next person who says that.

3. Night Walk
London is at it's best at night, Wednesday believes. There's a hum from the city - ambitions, hopes, dreams, fears, and nightmares - that anyone could feel and at night it seems to be amplified. She strolls easily down a darkened street, not particularly bothered that the street lights aren't at their best. There's a pleasant chill in the air and it reaches the bones in such a comforting way. The sound of footsteps behind her isn't anything, either. They were just footsteps, after all.

"Are you following me, or are we merely headed in the same direction?"

Until they were introduced, that was.

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"Nice to meet ya, Wednesday." She thrusts out a hand. "Most people just call me Girl. Last name Nobel."

Wednesday shakes the hand offered. "A straightforward name. Useful."

"Or maybe just proof my family weren't creative with the nicknames." She shakes her hand, laughing. It's nice not to get a strange look for the name. Her smile warms. "At least it's hard to forget."

There's a long look at her. "My name is a day of the week."

She likes her name but she feels it makes a good point.

"Yeah. But I wouldn't call it common. Never heard anyone named after a day before." Which she supposes could be due to not getting out much. "And I'd call it pretty easy to remember."

"Only line in the poem that was acceptable, according to Mother."

"Poem?" Girl echoes, confused. "Were you named for somethin'?"

"There's a poem relating to days of the week and the child who is born on them," there's a brief shrug. "Mother had made a promise and she was glad there was one good line."

Maybe it's one of those things people are supposed to know and her spotty homeschooling had let her down. She makes an 'oh' face, nodding slightly. She doesn't get it at all, but- "It's a cool name, either way."

"It's fitted so far in my life," Wednesday agrees. "I think we had better move. People are looking for a source."

She nods hesitantly to the further talk of the poem and more decisively when she starts to move. "Last thin' you wanna do is get caught." She gestures toward the other end of the street, starting off in that direction. "I was plannin' on grabbin a hot drink anyway."

Wednesday tilts her head, considering. A drink does sound like a good idea. "Lead the way," she says. She's still learning the city.

"Awesome," she says quietly. The walk isn't too long, at least it doesn't feel like it to Girl who's used to small towns and taking ages to get anywhere. She pauses out in front of a small coffee shop, holding the door for Wednesday. "Been here a few times. It seems okay."

"Interesting. Do order," Wednesday gestures to make it clear she will pay.

"Oh, you don't have to," Girl says, more out of learned politeness than anything else. She hesitates a moment before giving her order, a small but sweetened drink. She steps back to let Wednesday order, smiling gratefully.

"Why?" It's a reasonable question. "The price of two drinks will not harm me," she says before going to make her own order.

"Well, no. Just, ya know." She shrugs. "No obligations. Thanks though. Awful nice of ya."

Wednesday waves it off, paying for the drinks and handing Girl her order. She sips at her own and there's a slight look of displeasure. It's not nearly bitter enough.

She takes the cup with a murmur of thanks, sipping careful and sighing happily. Spending so much time at home and sharing pots of coffee with her uncle may have turned her into a bit of a caffeine addict. Girl frowns when she sees that expression cross Wednesday's face. "Did I pick a bad spot?"

"No," Wednesday said. "It's simply that many places don't make coffee to my tastes."

"Sorry," she says anyway, shrugging. "Should have let me pick up the bill then. I dragged ya over here."

"I offered," Wednesday said. "It's a recurring thing which I should have taken into consideration. No one's problem but my own."

"Still," she starts, stops and then shakes her head. No point in dragging out a closed argument. "So. You go to school 'round here or somethin'?"

Wednesday looks about the right age and, while Girl cann't quite place her accent, it wasn't exactly the same as she was coming to expect from Londoner's. A student come abroad to study seems a safe bet.

"I attend university in the city, yes," Wednesday confirms. "I also work at a small book-shop in Bloomsbury." She liked her job. There was always something reassuring about a small, cramped bookshop.

"Cool. Exchange student?" Girl asks. It takes her a moment to try to place Bloomsbury. Her knowledge of the city still isn't what it should be. "Book shop, huh? Ya know, I don't think I've ever been in one before."

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