Thread: Information Dealer 7-25-2010- Prologue (ATTN: Gia, Kendov)

The directions were easy enough to follow, an adjustment of the olive green bag that hung diagonally across her chest to rest against her left hip. It matched the earthen tones the rest of her disguise took on, the looser pants of a faded black held up by a belt with waist hidden by the layers of shirts worn further adding to the lack of figure she wanted to show, wanting people to believe she was in fact a male. It was topped with a grey hooded shirt, worn enough to have it seem like she lived on the street, the longer sleeves stained darker with splotches of ink and charcoal but they served to hide most of her hands, tucking them into pants pockets with a slight slouch to her walk. The hood for the time being, covered her head, a tilt of it given as she reached out to push open the door of Beecher & Hail’s, a store that came recommended to visit, having been around for some time when compared to the other stores of the same genre. That and it was more likely to have what interested her.

Even with the heavier boots to make her steps shuffle more than step, she was quiet, treating this place much like she would a library. She didn’t need to ask for help, eyes already on the nearby shelves of the blank journals, and moreso the leather bound ones. One need filled as two of them were in hand to lead her further into the store, the tips of her fingers brushing along the shelves with a glance to the books, most of them however skimmed over. She caught the sign of rare books out of the corner of her eye, a good place to begin. It took her less than a minute to pull one from the shelf, not necessarily the actual book but rather the language it was written in. A smile brought to her lips beneath that hood as she moved away and retired to one of the few seat sectioned off in a small area near to the occult section in back.

The bag was pulled free, arm bumping against the hood enough she finally just removed it, tossing it back to reveal the rather short black spiky hair, looking more in a disheveled state as if one hadn’t bothered to tend to it for a couple of days. It wasn’t her own hair of course but it matched the color perfectly and was made of real hair to help complete the guise. She dropped onto the chair with the books on the arm of it, the classical text she had taken barely cracked open. Just enough to glimpse at the pages, making sure they were indeed not in English. She would not leave here empty handed but she wanted some time, a delay and so that is why she reached into her own bag, pulling out a worn looking bound book much like the two she intended to purchase and a pair of pencils to go with it. Slouching in the seat, it was opened, fingers flipping through page after page of sketches.

Once a blank page was found near to the end, hazel eyes looked up to begin scanning the area, not too many chose to sit but one did. Mindful of the long sleeve, her eyes focused on Bjorn while he read, pencil already moving by the grace of her fingers to bring the dulled grey lines on the page, forming a basic outline of the man since he provided a model that didn’t seem to be going anywhere.

A long, hard stare took to the book in ravenous manner. The words devoured by keen eyes drifted from the page to cast a new ambiance of images to his mind's eye. Depicting the primogen, what Bjorn took as the stand-in for Kendov. The text was indeed insightful, a chronicle of journal entries entailing the actions of an observer to various vampires of each clan. occasional scribblings marked the hierarchy in question and ascent to power.

An idle hand wandered to the crumpled bag upon the table, parting the folds to remove a french fry from the contents and draw it his lips. A slow part of those lips... a soft grimace as the earlier night's happenings play over his mind. The very thought forced a tension in his snout that coaxed defensive fangs to jut from their place, pricking his bottom lip.

Bjorn brought his hand to his chin. The digits stroking along his lip to access the damage while looking for blood where there was none. Another stretch of his gaping maw to try to sooth the elongated ivories back into hiding, getting it right after a few minutes.

Gia pushed the spare pencil out of the way, focusing on the outline of both the figure of Bjorn and the setting surrounding him, mainly the table and chair he was seated at. It wasn't until the crinkle of the bag broke the bit of silence in this section that her attention moved to him for reasons other than her sketch. Clearing her throat to keep it in a lower octave as to not give away her guise. "If you honestly feel the need to eat, purchase what you want and head outside."

Her concerns wasn't of his hunger but more of the book he had, not knowing if it was already purchased but assuming on some level it was like her, retreating to make sure it was in fact what he wanted. Whether it was her words or something else, the fry was held in place only to bring forth something she didn't expect. Muscles tensed as she watched him until those longer points retreated back, quickly diverting her attention back to the sketch at hand with a glance to make sure hopefully that no one else saw such a display. What was wrong with this guy?

The voice certainly lured his attention, though masculine in demeanor... a touch of startle came to him when the figure seemed no more than a frail artistic type. The figure did however give him the rather general sense that the staff was now watching him and he lowered his eyes to the text wondering if she'd seen his fangs.

Now he felt more so unnerved. A rather eager tone leaping from his throat as he took to the pages and began muttering the words to re-focus his efforts. The mind's eye was now too worried to form the depicted images.. and thus sending him to the back where the charts were to be found and seeking printed graphics to draw from.

Silver blue eyes strobe the page, reading various names upon the outlined chart telling of the various ties up the ladder from Primogen to Prince. Those worry expression orbs moved about the page, suddenly widening as he caught the sight of names toward the top of the scale. Another glance to double check his assumption and his brow furrowed in confusion as the name Prince Cahill topped the chart.

A rather renewed sense of energy spurred from him before looking about for a staff member. Eyes falling upon the voice that directed him before. Perhaps not the best to rely upon at the moment, but that is to be expected... given the small size of the store. He rose from his seat, leaving his bag of food behind since he no longer desired to eat it. The sound of the bindings upon the tabletop filled the room with subtle nature as he slid the book along the surface to stop before the man.

"Pardon me.." he spoke as kindly as possible. "I need to know if this book was miss-shelved. I found it in the fiction section."

Expected something more than the man's mutterings, obviously returning to his book. At least he didn't act as if he knew she had been staring. A sigh released through parting lips as she stole another glance to the figure, unable to move until more of this sketch was completed. Gia didn't want to leave any details out and it meant staying put till she was sure she had them all. The book was twisted and turned to accommodate the lines drawn and bits of shading, making sure the flat of her hand and the cuff of the hooded shirt didn't disturb what was already there.

The surrounding shelves didn't need to be added, not in any detail tonight. She could return here anytime to complete it by keeping to the same seat. A rise of shoulders at the more subtle sound reached her ears, only drawing her attention when he spoke. It took a moment to realize he was talking to her, a lifting of her gaze and release of breath as he only inquired about the book he was reading. She didn't work here but after spending so much time working with customers and then the library, she put her own things down, sketchbook closed and set on the chair as she rose from it. "Let me see it. can probably tell you then."

Moving to the table, she made sure to keep some distance between them, drawing the book into her hands and stepping back. The first thing she noted was the title, fingers holding his place as it was partially closed. Title was more than a little curious but could be a work of fiction, people did have rather vivid imaginations. A tingle against the back of her neck however as it was opened once more, still keeping his place as she flipped through a few of the pages, noting the actually written words even in a published piece.

She did not know much of this city so far but from just a few things she did recognize, this was not something that should have been published, too much information that it couldn't be just a coincidence and now, having someone with obvious fangs asking if it was fiction. "Could you show me where you got this book?" She knew fiction but she wanted the exact shelf. Pages were still flipped, back to the beginning to find a note of perhaps author or even publisher.

Rather blank eyes studied this person as they looked over the book. A sense in their sudden interest made him think he may have been correct on the misplacement. A welcome grin, much like a subtle curl, tipped his lip in her favor. Gaze turned across the store, looking through the shelves for the area he was in. "Right this way."

A jaunt pace stepped ahead, maneuvering through the shelves with ample progression until he came to the same spot. Fingers rose and grasped the soft spine of another copy, glancing over the shelves surrounding to insist on any other lingering about. "I found them here. Looks as though only one copy left."

(Gia would have found the publisher to be WatcherInc written by Vort`e Giovanni)

Gia was just a tab bit curious, having to at least chuckle when she read over the name of the supposed author. "Cause that isn't obvious at all." Barely muttered though hardly hidden if one was close enough. The publisher was not one she recognized, which wasn't saying too much, not everyone that published a book was well known by everyone. They could be local. Eyes still skimmed the pages as she followed Bjorn through the shelves to where he did find this one. He had already taken hold of another copy and even her gaze moved to the shelves to see if another could be spotted.

"One copy but how many other than these two?" A decent question to ask and the thought of inquiring with the owner came to mind or at least the person behind the counter but it could bring questions she didn't want to answer. Closing the one she held fully, there was a light shrug of her shoulders. "I am afraid I really can't tell you if it is fiction or not. There are so many books of this chosen genre out there but perhaps one you should definitely buy if you were having any doubts. Maybe you know someone personally that might be able to better help answer that question."

Clearing her throat once more, she turned to head back to where she left her things, the copy he originally had within her hand and something even she was about to purchase along with the other three.

Bjorn's eyes turn to the book now held in his hand. Her response had him in question. A gentle sigh of his features before rummaging through his coat for the cell phone he had found in his things earlier. A slow passing of gaze over the digits to recall the sequence before his touch grew flamboyant upon the notes in playing that dreaded cellular tune.

A device rose to his ear, the book held tight as he neared the tables once more on his way to the counter. One... Two... Three... he counted the rings. He didn't think Kendov would want to be asked such a question.. and sadly had forgotten to inquire Lenore's. He cursed himself for it and continued his count. "five..." the ringing ceased, cutting off the sixth and the automated recording greeted him. "I need to speak with you..." he commented before a long pause. "I need to know how to find Cahill."

The obvious tones as he dial on the cell were loud enough to filter through the distance between the two, more so as he walked in the same direction she did. Her sketchbook and the pencils were both placed in her bag while she fished around for the money she had hidden in the bottom, a jingle of metal against metal as something else was disturbed below.

She couldn't help but glance at the man once more while he held his cell to his ear, delaying now out of that curiosity though in hearing the mention of one name she did spot within that book, fingers pressed to her forehead. The name could be nothing but still. A side glance to Bjorn when his words ceased. "You really shouldn't mention names like that in such phone calls." Only said considering the text of the book and the unknown knowledge of how many have read it but while she hoped to be the only one within hearing range, it was good to remember in most situations.

Once said, the bag was draped back over her chest as she headed back to the front counter and clerk behind it, setting the books down and waiting for him to ring them up so she could hand him the money to complete this transaction.