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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"There are some general ways of fixing any damage caused, but if you are looking for more detail, you'd need to consult a specialized text," Wednesday answered. "However, the general reversals do work 9 times out of 10, unless the damage is... punishing." There's a slight light in her eyes at that. Irreversible spell damage... what a delight to think of.

Oh.

Ghoul hesitates. Maybe it's the look on her face, maybe it's the punishing part... whatever it is, he's suddenly less confident in his decision to straighten this out. "I don't know if it's that bad?" He doesn't feel damaged, really. But then again, he hasn't messed with his new... additions(?) lately. Maybe side effects only crop up if he starts playing around with it.

Ugh. Why is magic like this. "Fuck, I dunno. I don't do magic stuff." Obviously... "You think I should leave it alone?"

"It would depend on the issue in question," she replied honestly. "It would be wise to have one practiced in magic to perform any reversal spells if you feel nervous." She's very straightforward, largely because she doesn't believe in irritating the customers (well, any more than is strictly necessary). "Further information would be able to help provide clearer results."

Even though he dislikes sharing personal details and avoids it when possible, he'd like to find out more about this. And if he can't talk to an eerie supernerd then who can he talk to? "Okay, so here's the thing. Somebody I know-" because it's clearly not him "-got caught in some crossfire during a fight and can do this thing now? As far as I can tell, it's kinda like healing... but not really."

It's sort of hard to explain, now that he's trying to do it. He makes a face. "I guess it's more like pain absorbing."

"Is the... person," she play his game, "suffering from this pain absorbing?" She hopes they are - it would be a pleasant type of thing to happen. But then again, other people don't look too happily on that type of thing.

"Not really? I mean when it's active, yeah, it ain't real fun." His entire face scrunches up momentarily as he thinks about it. It otherwise doesn't bug him on a daily basis, no... "But we're, uh- wonderin' if it might get worse over time to where it is a bother. Or if it'll make 'em die. Like, if they suck the pain outta somebody that's been cut in half, is that gonna freak their body out and kill 'em?"

It's probably difficult to say without studying the person in question. Shame he didn't bring his friend along...

"It would be hard to say without a close examination." She pauses, in thought. "Each individual's pain threshold is unique to them, and pushing them over it can lead to death. Whether this accidental magic would heighten the threshold would need to be discovered as well. The results would be ... messy.^

Ghoul gives her a blank stare.

He likes science and all, but messy experimental torture for science? On him? That could possibly result in death? That may be a touch too far. "That sounds like some pretty awful bullshit." What a square, right? "Think we're gonna sit that one out."

"A shame." She turns back to look at the books, bringing out a slightly thicker on, with a brown spine. "This volume focuses largely on reversals to magical incidents like the one you've described. More of a historical accounting than anything else, but it should provide some useful information." She turns back. "Of course, any spells will be on a person to person basis. The spell-caster will need to adjust to the individual affected."

"Yeah, 'course." It's an auto-pilot answer. He doesn't know jack shit about tailoring spells, but it makes sense. Everyone is a unique little snowflake that requires their own individual snowflake cure.

"So, that seems like a pretty good place to start. I'll just go with that one for now, I guess." One book at a time, for his own sake more than anything. He feels like he's been researching so much shit lately... ugh. This place is no good for him.

"It's £10.99 and 5 pence if you need a bag," Wednesday tells him, moving towards the cash register.

"I don't need a bag." Ghoul trails after her like a clueless duckling. After reaching the counter, he digs out actual notes and a couple coins rather than a card to pay her with. As much as he enjoys the convenience of cards, he's gotten out of the habit of using them since he can't exactly get his obviously-fake name stamped on them.

"Uh, thanks, too." For the help, that is. He surely would have walked out of here with something weird and useless if he'd been left to it on his own.

"Please come again," Wednesday hands over the book after taking the payment. Personally, she's not much of a fan of cards - too easy to clone. "And no need to thank me, my job is to help." She notes down the sale in the book beside the register. "I hope you're able to remove the spell aftermath on yourself."

He nods as he takes the book in his hands, turning it over a time or two and opening it up to a few random pages, checking it out a little. His attention is divided between the book and her, so he slips up. He answers her well-wishing with, "Yeah, me too."

And then he realizes what he's done. His head jerks back up and he looks at her all horrified like he's just accidentally admitted to being D.B. Cooper or something. "No, it's not- I mean-" Fuck. He goes silent for a few seconds and then he snaps the book shut, all red-faced when he finally mumbles, "I'll let you know how it goes." Then he slinks out of the store before anything else can be said, because fuck.

You might think Wednesday was smirking from that.

But of course, you're wrong.

She doesn't smirk.

Often.

Darkness and the City

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