A Place for My Heart [End]

[Greenie]

Books. They didn't lie, they weren't stupid, they didn't pretend to be something they weren't, and they were usually far more interesting on the inside than the outside. People never lived up to those standards, which was why Elodie much preferred to live in imaginary worlds rather than reality. She usually spent most of her "spending" money on books - something she never shared with anyone, as she rather enjoyed everyone thinking all she bought was perfume and fancy jewelry. She did buy those things, but she bought far more books. Usually she had someone venture forth into bookstores for her with a list of titles and authors to buy, but today was an emergency: She had nothing to read, and several days to kill. Now was not the time to let some half-wit pick her books out for her.

She slipped into the store as unobtrusively as a bright pink-and-yellow fluffy cat is able to and slunk around the shelves, searching for names and covers she recognized.

[Kari Muffin]

It was nice working in a bookstore. Even if it wasn't something she wanted to do for the rest of her life, she got paid for it. And she got to read when no one was around. Today, however, it was time to stock the shelves. Her boss was rather nice about it, considering the snake mix didn't have any hands, however she still had do it.

At the moment she was balancing a book on her nose when she heard the bell on the door ring. Her ears flicked as she tried to hear where the person was walking. They were awfully quiet.

The snake deer peered over one of the lower shelves, catching a hint of tail swooshing by. That looked like a fluffy cat tail. For the moment she set the book on the proper shelf before slithering over to the customer. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she said before she rounded the corner to see who had entered.

A rather pretty Yarrow cat. Viola was a tiny bit surprised by the jewelery covered feline. Most people who were diva's never really waltzed into this tiny little bookshop. After all, everyone had servants to do that for them. Though it was probably odd to see a Jack of Hearts working in a book store.

[Greenie]

The cat had found one of her favorite mystery authors and was quite absorbed in staring at titles to the point where she literally jumped at Viola's quiet question. A brief glance at the woman told her why - she was a serpent, meaning she made very, very little noise in moving. Well, damn. She hadn't intended on actually talking to anyone here.. but she had a question. Questions didn't answer themselves when you were alone, and if she didn't ask now, she'd have to wait until she was home, and then she wouldn't get the book..

Fardling cycles.

She relaxed imperceptibly when she saw the snake's rank, and muddled over her mixed markings. Hearts she liked, and the swirls were obviously Highlander.. the green could be Josiggy, though, and she never trusted them. Well, if she worked here, she better at least be able to answer a question. It was worth a try.

"Do you have any more books in the back by this author?" She pointed a ring-covered paw at the shelf she was examining. "I already own all of these." Her tone was polite, but stiff; it was obvious she was very unsure how to hold a conversation of this nature and was uncomfortable with it.

[Kari Muffin]

The snake's ears perked forward as she watched the Yarrow's paw. She slithered a bit closer to clearly read the author's name. Ah! She was actually supposed to put the new books for him out today! "Actually if you follow me I can give you a brand new copy straight from the shipment we got this morning! I was actually going to put the new book on the shelf after I was finished stocking the reference section."

Viola gave the woman a rather nice smile. It had been a while since she found some who read good fiction. Most people who came into the shop were Esterberries interested in research material. The snake turned around to slither in the proper direction a few aisles away.

A little box sat in the center of the aisle she was stocking. She flipped it open with her tail. "This is supposed to be his last book in the latest series, though I'm skeptical of all the rumors." She paused in her speech to nose the book out of the box and tip it back to balance onto her antlers. "Is there anything else you're looking for? We also have the latest book from the Aeria series."

[Greenie]

Elodie stared bemusedly at the snake. "Oh." Was all she managed to get out, completely lost as to what else to say. She had no further questions yet - she hadn't had time to find the other books she was looking for. Were you supposed to keep asking questions of shop workers?

Thankfully she was saved further words, and she followed Viola over to the box, where a small smile formed on her face at the cover of the new book. "He's writing another," She replied suddenly, but absently, with the confidence of someone whose money had paid for answers. She gently took the book from the snake and stared intently at the artwork on the front, then blinked with a start at Viola's second question.

"Aeria?" She questioned blankly, totally unfamiliar with the title. Her source of new series' and authors was usually up to her servant's perogative - one of her maids had an eye for good books, and Elodie usually trusted her judgement as to what to buy.

[Kari Muffin]

Viola looked surprised. So she knew that he was writing another? That was good! It was a series that didn't deserve to end so soon.

Though what surprised the snake more was that the feline in front of her didn't know about the Aeria series. Her eyes widened briefly before returning to their normal size. "The Aeria series is only two books at this point, but someone who likes that novel I imagine you'd like this series as well. Actually a while back the two authors worked on a collaborative piece of short stories."

The snake turned around to fish her tail in the box again, she pulled out yet another book, balancing on her head. It was rather thin with a simple illustration of a white stag on the cover. "Most people pass this by because of the simple cover, but it's a good read."

[Greenie]

Elodie nodded vaguely, her attention on the back of the book cover now, her eyes quickly but accurately scanning the descriptive text. After a moment she set it down close to her and turned her attention to what the snake was saying, and the book she was digging out.

"I'll take it," She said with mild interest. "Do you have the first one as well?" The cat wasn't usually picky about what order she read things in, but she liked having entire series' at once, and she really didn't want to have to go to another store - she knew not all of the stores in the area were quite so selective about their hiring process. Some of them had Clubs working there, ugh! She was not asking Clubs questions.

She accepted the second book and placed it by the first without perusing it like she had the first. "Do you have any other suggestions?" Elodie asked tentatively, not sure how this "branching out" of their talk would go. "I'll read just about anything. I need.. a lot of books."

[Kari Muffin]

Viola grinned, "Yes we do! Give me a second." She went back to the box and pulled out the second edition of the first book in the series. She carefully gave it to the feline to hold.

Though the Yarrow seemed rather unsure of herself, the snake was quite happy to have someone come into the store and not yell at her. Most of the customers weren't willing to listen to any of her suggestions, and she rarely put up a fight. It was pointless when people were so set in their ways.

But she seemed open to suggestion. And if she needed a lot of books well... Viola would do her best to provide.

"We have a few good historical novels, One based on the based on War of the First Wall. We also have a good selection of fantasy adventure novels." She slithered a to a shelf a few feet away. Carefully she slipped a few books off the shelves. "Take a look at the description on these, they might be good for you. Though one is a little old and you might have it if you have an extensive collection."

[Greenie]

Elodie merely blinked at the woman when told to wait, bemused at the snake's obvious enthusiasm. She'd never met someone who actually liked books the way she did - her maid liked picking them out, not reading them. Her parents thought reading was pointless when not academic, so were disinterested in sharing her hobby. It was leaving her even more speechless that this random woman was literally throwing books at her..

She tilted her head at the mention of historicals. She'd never read anything related to history outside of her schooling.. and it had never appealed to her then. It was a fairly big book though, so it would keep her busy, if nothing else. She added it to her pile, then moved over to the shelf Viola was indicating. "I'll send it back if I have it already," She replied, though she was positive she didn't; she knew her bookshelves by heart. Elodie glanced at the titles and the back covers then added them to her pile without even glancing at the price, then turned back to Viola, waiting to see if she had anything else.

[Kari Muffin]

Viola was still quite cheerful. It was hard to put a damper on now since things were going so well. And from the looks of it the feline was prepared to take even more books. Well, she must have been a very rich girl. Though that was pretty obvious considering the amount of jewelry she was wearing.

The snake ushered the woman towards another section. "These books are also a good series. Not what you would expect from an Esterberry scholar, but she's extremely good with writing fiction and I'm surprised her books haven't caught on."

After offering the books Viola had to pause in thought. There weren't that many new bestseller that were actually good. Though there was that one book she had read a bit of that seemed engaging. "There's one more new book that came in, though it's written by someone I've never heard of. I only got through the first chapter but it seems like a really engaging book so far. It's actually be the checkout counter if you don't mind following me."