11293/Books Books and more Books

Books Books and more Books
Date of Scene:	04 April 2020
Location:	Rain Day Books, South Point
Synopsis:	Nick brings one more into the Nokia cult
Cast of Characters:	Phantasm (Drago), Oracle

---

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
After a rather long time filiming up in the cold of the Yukon. There's so much stuff Nick wants to do now that he's in the comparitiely warmer Tri-State area. And so he is out!

The weather is pretty pleasant which leads to him taking a much further trip, away from the New York Area and now, perhaps subconciously driven by the young child in him, he is back to the first city he's ever known. Gotham. And consequently the store he was most familiar with growing up: Rain Day Books.

The bell on the door rings as the knit-capped, slightly bearded, almost homeless looking rock-star strolls in. Glancing around. There's not much in terms of patronage at the moment. The morning is still young after all. But the scent of old paper and the sight of the old man behind the register is enough to trigger a nostalgic smile upon the musician's features.

He gives a nod to the shop keeper before strolling over to the end caps, displaying the most recent books put on sale.

Oracle has posed:
If Nick looks like that, Barbara's the opposite. She's dressed for being out and around the city in a dress and heels. Striding in, Babs looks over the bookstore and smiles to herself.

Books. Computers. There's not alot of difference really, and she pauses her walk into the store and casts her eyes over it. Oh she knows every inch of Gotham, it's what she does and given who her father is...well, Babs is a regular around the city.

Watching Nick for a moment, Babs hand shoots out and picks out a paperback. Fiction, she's slowly making a collection in the clocktower, as she picks out yet another fiction paperback again. Finally she speaks.

"So" Babs says with a smile. "Hey there, how much are the books?" Oh it's like she's on a crusade to get books.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's attire, while clean, is not the most impressive. No expensive labels. No over the top patterns, in fact, no patterns whatsoever, just solid, neutral tones. If one were to bisect him and hold a mirror to either side, the outfit would end up looking the same. It's not at all like the higher end attire he'd wear on stage.

The performer's not sure at what point he wandered near Babs or it was Babs that wandered near him, but when her arm darts in front of him to grab a book he blinks before looking over to Babs, stepping away from the endcap.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to block you." He apologizes before glancing to the price on display, "Ones here are 3 for $10. I'd assume the ones without stickers or signs are going based off the price stamped on the covers." He pauses, "...I don't work here."

Oracle has posed:
"Oh no no, I didn't say you did" Babs nods. "Thanks though, there's good books in here though" Babs agrees flipping through the paperback she's holding, watching Nick over the top of the book, pretending to read.

Babs steps back from the shelf and looks over to Nick with a nod. She's got that look that all but screams she's sure she's seen him somewhere...

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick nods, glancing back to the shelves. "They always seem to have a good selection here." He admits, eyes drifting over to the older titles. The smile fades a little as he gets a general sense of being looked at. He turns to look back over to Babs, "Is there a particular genre you're into or are you more of a 'across all spectrums' type?"

Oracle has posed:
Babs looks over at Nick and smiles. "oh, no. I'm into all genres" she ads and watches Nick for a moment. Then back to the book. Then back to Nick again. She smiles, shaking her head. "I swear I know you from somewhere" she begins. Great, Babs. Open mouth, insert feet...

Babs grabs another book and slides it onto the pile she's making. Hey, desks need books on them..

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Oh I get that a lot." Nick replies, not skipping a beat as he's told he looks familiar. Hmm seems he does get that a lot. He looks over to the pile of books that Babs is accumlating, studying the titles that he can see. "That is a wide spectrum..." He pauses, turning his head, "Got any Poe?"

Oracle has posed:
"Nope" Babs says cheerfully. Maybe a bit too cheerful for that question. "Though why is a raven like a writing desk anyway?" she asks looking amused over to Nick and the poor clerk. "I mean, nobody knows but still" she shrugs.

Nick /does/ look familiar however. At least, a litle. Babs is Batman levels of urban legend around the hacker scene, and she's read up on things. Things, well, she keeps to herself however.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The musician looks to Babs a little bit warily. This seems like a setup to a bad joke. He sighs.

"I don't know. Why IS a raven like a writing desk?"

Nick looks back to the shelf, taking a few steps to go to the aisle where Poe's works would be.

Oracle has posed:
It's not a setup to a bad joke. It's more, well, Babs is curious. Something she can't figure out. She does though look genuinely hopeful Nick knows. yeah, right...

Thubming through the book for a moment, Barbara sets it back on the pile with a thud. Apparently, yes, paperbacks go thud when slapped onto a pile. Who knew?

She's one aisle over, the sound of turning pages. Babs pokes her head around the end of the shelves and peers into where Nick is. "Hey, you know if they got any Shelley?" she asks. Themn decides fine, here goes...

"Hate to say it but you do lok familiar, like I swear I've seen you around before" she starts, unsure where this'll lead

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick turns around, facing the opposing Fiction shelf where the 'S' names would be "Frankenstein?" He asks, glancing over to skim to the titles, before gesturing over to the book in question.

"I get that a lot." He repeats, turning back to the shelf he was initially looking at.

The older gentleman behind the counter sighs, seemingly getting tired of the exchange, "That's Mi- Oh sorry. Nick Drago. He's an entertainer."

Nick frowns, giving an accusing glare to the narcing shop owner as he reaches over to pull out a collected works of Edgar Allen Poe, offering it over to Barbara, "Father of the Detective Story." He points out, changing the topic, "For variety's sake."

Oracle has posed:
Babs does a double take at the name. Nick Drago. Okay, see. She's run into bits and pieces on him, but she's not into digging into people unless they've done something to irk her interests. Still. Babs is, if anything, well, Babs is amused she's met /the/ Nick Drago. She looks to the old guy, dare she tick Nick off? "You mean like the guy who does music?" she asks carefully. "Nah that's not possible. No way any rock star would be here, in this book store, right?"

Oh Babs is one frantic typing session away from checking, but she's trying to cover for Nick too. Cause that's what she /does/

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick gives a nod in response to Barbara's question, still holding out the book towards Barbara. "Yeah, I do music." He confirms, looking over to the shop owner. "Judas."

At the elder gentleman's chuckle and dismissive wave, Nick looks back over to Barbara. "Well, being that you have my name, may I ask yours?"

Oracle has posed:
Babs takes the book and smiles. "You're not bent over with a knife in your back. I'm Barbara" she nods and offers a hand. It's not a case of 'do you know who I am'....when she's the daughter of Commissioner Gordon. So yeah, people oughta know who she is.

Adding the book to the pile with that curious muffled sound books make when stacked on each other, Babs smiles. "Music's good. I always find going for a walk and music helpps out" she adds. Knowing Babs...she's probably got a 'music to punch supervillains to' playlist somewhere on her array. Gotta be prepared!

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Hand freed of the book, it gains a new task as it takes the offered hand to give it a shake. "It is good stress relief most of the time." Nick admits, "Angry? Go take some sticks and beat up on some drums for a little bit. Feeling nostalgic? Go play the piano for a bit."

He lowers his hand, "So, what do you do?"

Oracle has posed:
Babs looks pleased, "Yeah you're right, computers? Hammer on keys. Instruments? Hammer on them. I work with the GCPD as a computer expert" she admits. Yeah that's not all she does, but...but....

It's her 'legit' job, if you will. She's not admitting flat out she's Oracle, or Batgirl, nope. Nope just nope. That's a bad idea. So she sticks with what she's thinking. Just the (legal) facts. Works with computers, workks for GCPD...and lives in Gotham. All this is relayed to Nick with a pleased look at the books she's got piled up.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's expression falters a little at the mention of her work location, giving a bit of a frown before he blinks. "Ah, computers." He replies, "I don't really work much with them oddly enough. I mean, if I need to look up something I'll borrow my roommate's for a little bit but..."

He chuckles, reaching into his pocket, "Well here. This kind of illustrates it a bit better." He pulls out his Nokia and shows it to Babs, screen smashed to where there's just the icon of a mail envelope in the upper left hand corner. "It's not pretty, I can't read text messages, but it still makes and receives phone calls. Clear as a bell."

Oracle has posed:
"Which is more than modern phones do" Babs agrees. "Though are you living in the 90s with that thing? Pro: It won't get run over. Con: You'll get an angry soccer mom complaining you broke her car. Worth it" Babs says with a nod. "See, you're smart, not all about the hype and glitz of oh I got a new smart phone" Babs says. yeah there's the cynical side coming out again. "Though really. Phones are maent for calls!" Barbara admits, watching Nick gently and quietly.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"I was more raised on the 'Waste not, want not' approach." Nick admits, putting the phone that is older than him back. "Smart phones look neat but, do I really need all that all the time?"

He pauses, "Also the sheer fact that I could get one of those still functioning and working on existing networks into my possession is enough to make me want to keep it for as long as I can."

Oracle has posed:
"True, I want one now" Babs says sounding genuinely awed. Okay. See. Nick got a 90s brick of a phone to work. Serious kudos from Oracle on that one. Serious freaking kudos. Babs needs to get her hands on one. And no not Nick's phone either.

Time to hit up the markets when she gets home. Because now, well, Barbara's got a little idea for whiling away a few hours.

And quite a bit of tech, too. She's totally not gonna ask Alfred or Nightwing or anyone for a 90s brick of a phone. If anything that's totally going in the wrong direction tech wise...

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick tilts his head in surprise at that, "Well, if you're serious I could ask my friend where he got mine. He's already tracking down a couple more. I'd just need your phone number to contact you. I don't live around here anymore so it'd probably be better to call ahead."

Oracle has posed:
Babs grins. "Sure. Got a pen and paper?" she adds and watches looking all happy like she'll get a Nokia. If things work out. She will. Hey, maybe she can call Bats on it? Ultimate retro car phone for the sport Batmobile, true that!

Slipping the books on the counter she pulls out money and insists on paying in cash. Mostly since, no card in her pocket and she's not wanting to put this on her card. Enough paperbacks for a good reading session, or long nights digging things online.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Giving a nod, Nick reaches into his other pocket, fishing out a fine tipped sharpie and a random business card for Shaw Studios. He sets them on the counter in front of Babs. "You can write on the back of the card."