11328/Harry in the Box

Harry in the Box
Date of Scene:	13 April 2020
Location:	The Magic Box, Sunnydale
Synopsis:	Magic talk at the magic shop.
Cast of Characters:	Harry Dresden, Cordelia Chase, Buffy Summers, Thomas Raith, Phantasm (Drago)

---

Harry Dresden has posed:
There are a few things a wizard needs that he can't typically find at your local grocery store. Ok...maybe more than a few. Rays of sunshine or moonlight or the sound of silence don't tend to come on the shelf ready for purchase, except for one place. The Magic Box. Harry doesn't venture into this place all that often, but when he does is brings with him a long list of provisions to pick up and today is no exception. The tall and lanky wizard slips into the Box, staff in one hand and a woven basket in the other, dressed in his typical attire of jeans, an old vintage tee, and that duster.

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Harry's not alone. There's a certain venomous investigator. That'd be a Cordelia out of her natural habitat. I.E. behind a desk. She's here as well looking for information. That's not on shelves either but Cordie, after her recent run ins with a certain Slayer...

She's taking awhole different approach to this. She's here in the Magic Box looking for info. And also quite literally looking up to a very tall wizard, too...

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Excuse me," Harry says as he scoots around Cordelia, passing by her on his way to the shelves in the back, the ones where they keep the 'real' ingredients, not the normal nick-knacky things that a laymen might come in to buy for the giggles. Once there, Harry starts plucking things off the shelves, going through his mental checklist and crossing things off as he goes.

He pauses, looking back over his shoulder, "You haven't seen any depleted uranium have you?"

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Okay so what sort of a question is that. "I don't make a habit of hanging around nuclear plants, no. I'd suggest checking there" Cordie offers. "Bring your own light too and a good doctor if you're going there however" Cordie adds after a moment's pause smoothing out her jeans, shaking her head. Really. Who would go look for that stuff? Maybe the tall guy's a collector of odd things? No, she hasn't herd of Harry, funnily enough.

She'd totally be all banging on his door if she had mind...

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden shrugs a shoulder, "Ok, just thought I would ask. This place tends to hold some more obscure ingredients at time," the large wizard says with a shrug as he grabs another bottle of something from the shelf. "I figured since you were in here you might know, but I guess your just here for the novelty?"

Harry moves over a few feet to start browsing at another selection of jars and bottles.

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Cordelia laughs, "No I'm here to find information. So" she says. It's the sort of laugh that's part amused, part insulted she's here for the 'novelty', whatever that is. Cordie's a Sunnydale girl, and...she knows a thing or two about these bits of Bloodhaven. Tourist? Try again.

Still she steps back and begins her own browsing. Hey, maybe she really can get something to brighten up the Hyperion?

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden shrugs again as he pulls a couple more items from off the shelves. "Information? What kind of information are you trying to find in a magic shop?" the semi-interested private investigator asks with a hint of skepticism and curiosity. "I hope it isn't for a love potion or anything, those things are dangerous."

Cordelia Chase has posed:
"Wait, you said love potions?" Cordie asks. Oh, she /knows/ someone who would love one of those!..well at least in Cordie's judgement, flawed as ever. Yes she's on about a Buffy, of course. Not that she apparently needs help in that department. Cordie has planety of opinions on thatt one, mind. She still deosn't like the slayer much really. Though nine out of ten times? Buffy starts it

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden says, "Yes," Harry says with a nod of his head. "I've made one before. They work, but damn are they nothing but trouble. I would advise you to not use anything of the sort."

Harry moves further down the aisle, grabbing a couple more jars off the shelves."

Cordelia Chase has posed:
"Now who said I'd use it?" Cordie asks, "No no I was merely thinking a friend could use it" she explains watching Harry a little. "Hold on though. You said they are trouble, yeah? How much trouble are we talking about?" she adds and looks curious for a moment. Naturally given just who she's considering, trouble may turn right around and bite her in the ass. Cordie's just wanting to absolutely point blank prove a point to Buffy once and for all. She's even considering going this far to help....er...'help' Buffy out. Though really given Buffy let slip she works at the Blue Lady, Cordiy doubts Buffy needs help with that.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden says, "Let's see. The you might end up naked while fighting a toad demon while the girl who accidentally took the potion tries to feel you up and profess her love to you kind? Not that I speak from personal experience or anything." Harry smirks. "I wouldn't make another one. Hell, I even say that on my business card.""

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Cordie had a smart reply. Key word. Had.

Harry's left her speechless. "What....how what why what you said what now?" Cordie asks trying to wrap her brain around that image. Brain bleach. Lots of it. That's just....

"I think..." Cordie admits carefully. "I think you jst terrified me with that image" she admits looking a little green around the gills and wide eyed in shock. Good job, Cordie. Good job...walk into that. Still she'll have a fun story to tell people at the Hyperion, too...

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden says, "Good," says Harry with a nod, "Then I did my job correctly. Love potions are not something to fuck with.""

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Cordie's got no words. None. Her mental pathways are playing jump rope with the signals too. Which if anythingg....

Thud. Cordie goes down like a wet sack of potatoes in a Queens rainstorm sliding off of a box truck.

Which is to say....she hits the floor, staring up at Harry. Now she's really going to get a crick in her cnk...

"You're right" she says weakly. Still very, very worried.

Buffy Summers has posed:
As luck would have it, Buffy just happened to be pulling a few shifts this week. Like, today. In fact, she's been behind the counter the entire time, picking up some slughorn shells that had fallen. All 500 of them. Which had kept her busy right up until she heard the word 'love potion' being mentionned by what sounded like Cordelia. Oh yes, and 'naked' and 'toad demon' were said in the same sentence. Which makes it *really* hard to focus on the task at hand.

Her head pops up moments later, rubbing her eyes. Those slughorn shells are really tiny. And. Did she REALLY hear that last part?

"Oh...Hey Harry..Cordelia. Oh heh, looks like you guys already know each other!" she laughs nervously. Great. Add Harry's dry humour to Cordy's blunt sarcasm and what do you get? One very exhausted Buffy who has to listen to their bizarre banter.

"Erm...How can I help you today?" what? You didn't know she worked here? well, now you do!

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden blinks as the woman goes down falling to the floor, dropping the basket in his hand and moving over to her to check on her. "Are you ok? Do do you need me to call someone?" He glances up at Buffy and shakes his head, "NO, I don't know her, but she just kinda fell over here. You might need to call an ambulance!"

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Cordie groans. "I need brain bleach. I can't get that image out of my head. No no no just no" she chants staring up at Harry making a cross sign with her arms. Or that's the intention. It's like a drunk tarantula on ice skates went to an art store, and tried to both wave at passers-by while warding off evil spirits. The net result is Cordie's doing elaborate Tibetan symbology mixed in with holy shi... is she okay? vibes.

"I'll be okay...Just....just give me aminute" Cordie says weakly. "That mental image smacked me across the brain" she adds leaning on the shelf as she gets up. She looks with a frazzled look to Buffy then to Harry. "Is he always like this?" she asks Buffy, pointedly for the moment ignoring Harry in case he says anything else nightmare fuel worthy. No, not fuel. Harry's got a whole nightmare fuel operation in that head of his

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers raises a brow at Cordelia and sighs, walking around the counter and filling a cup of water from the water cooler. "Seriously, Cordy. You are still way too dramatic." rolling her eyes, she pulls up a chair to the counter. "Here. What did you say to her, Harry?" eyes narrow a bit on him, knowing he can say some pretty..Shocking things from time to time. Glancing at Cordy she offers her a glass to drink from. "Here, take slow breaths..I thought you'd be used to this kinda stuff by now, in our line of work.." Glancing between the two of them, she just smirks. "Comes with the territory I suppose.."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry shrugs his shoulders, "I just mentioned why love potions are a bad idea. I didn't expect that kind of a reaction." Harry leans on his staff watching Buffy and Cordelia, "All I did was tell her about the one time I made one and what a catastrophe that turned out to be. I've told you the story before haven't I? Toad demon...etc. At least it wasn't about the story about flaming monkey poo."

Cordelia Chase has posed:
"It's justified this time" Cordie says between sips, shuddering at the toad demon getting another mention. "That's just creepy" she shivers. "That....no just nooooo" she squeaks and sips her water with a worried look to Harry

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smirks slightly, nodding, "Heh, I think I remember. Geez, Harry, what's with you and your crazy adventures? I mean, cant you ever go out on a normal date or anything?" okaaay, she totally shouldn't have gone there for a number of reasons and immediately regrets it. "Wait, forget I said that."

She looks back at Cordelia and frowns softly, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're ready to be working for Angel Investigations? I mean that kind of stuff happens a lot around here." she does seem a bit concerned as she regards her thoughtfully, resting the glass of water on the counter if not immediately taken.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden glances between Cordie and Buffy and just raises an eyebrow, moving to stand back up and stand over the two ladies. "It's not like I go out looking for these kind of things to happen to me...they just do. Peral of being a wizard I suppose. I'm just trying to make a living."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Bad Romance by Lady Gaga can be heard a full thirty seconds before a white sports car comes whipping around the corner outside and parallel parks perfectly in front of the shop. Honestly if that spot had been taken, and there was no way for the driver to know it would not have been, that could have been disastrous. Instead it just looked cool. Hopping out of the car, the proverbial "One your mamma warned you about." Gets out of the car and fetches a few to-go containers and a bottle of wine, walking for the door. If the girlfriend can't come to a romantic dinner, you bring the dinner to her.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smiles apologetically at Harry, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Heey, you know I'm kidding right? I mean, it's not so bad compared to what I've been through. Kinda comes with the territory in our line of work, although.." she grimaces, "Guess I don't get paid for it. If it makes you feel any better, my mom once dated a psycho robot, my best friend was in love with a giant preying mantis..And I seem to be attracted to vampires.." she flinches as she hears music playing loudly.

Cordelia Chase has posed:
"You don't get paid?" Cordie asks. Ha. Point for Cords there. She gets paid working for Ai. Okay, point for the car and lose a point for the awful music (well in her mind at least). She does look over mind and eyes the door, the car, and then back to Buffy. "So...somebody who drives a six figure car. Is that your special someone? See,I was right about a sugar daddy huh?" Cordie says smugly. Oh, that smugness may be short lived...mostly since Cordie's not trusting her legs to move toward the door

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden says, "I get paid!" Harry says defensively, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks down at the former cheerleader. "Sometimes. If I get lucky." the wizards continues, grousing. And then there is what is unmistakably Thomas. Harry lets out an exasperated sigh as the realization of who is arriving comes to clarity, and starts to gather up his selections, shoving them back into the basket he brought along to carry them."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith comes in, and of course his eyes lock first and foremost on Buffy. He walks towards her setting the bags and such on the counter, tilting her head up lightly and kissing the woman soft and gentle. "Missed you." He says with a smile and only /then/ does he look around the shop noting the other people there. "Oh, yo have clients. And Harry. Hi there Harry, how's business treating you?" he asks amused.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers glances towards the door, getting all starry-eyed as she sees her love and totally ignores Cordy and Harry for the moment as she hugs him tightly, kissing him softly, "Hey, handsome..How'd the meeting go..?" oh right, Harry's there, looking cranky. Oh and Thomas is here too! "Heeey, you guys should talk..You know..About ...That..? Go on!" she nudges him towards Harry..

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
After taking a *ahem* shortcut, another figure ends up coming in to the Magic Box. Although a magic user of sorts, Nick is not here to shop. There are only a few select reasons why Nick comes out this far away from home and more often than not it has something to do with the odd assortment of friends that tend to hang out in the area.

"Hey guys." He greets, door still swinging closed as he gives a glance to Buffy and Thomas. As his head turns, he sees Cordelia and stops, giving a surprised look.

The door closes shut.

Cordelia Chase has posed:
There's a gagging sound from Cordie at the sappy stuff. She pulls out her phone, scrolling quickly like she's after, well, something or other. Ah yes. The sapppiest, most romantic song (and the cheesiest) she can think of. Which is....well, it's saccharine sweet topped with sugar glazed with sweetness. Cordie has it on her phone because....well....she likes the song. Shock! Cordie isn't heartless after all. Who knew?

Or she's just out to get Buffy. Except she's /helping/ with the sappy romance mood. Jeez....Cordie, she's doing a good deed....according to some.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith grins a bit and rolls his eyes slightly as the cheesy music starts and grins a bit, "Hello again Harry, good to see you." He subtlely steps back lightly on Buffy's toes. Not that he doesn't want to have the conversation with Harry but there are...other people here. "Hey Nick, good to see you too.."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Yeah. You too." Harry says to Thomas, but the wizard's attitude is more cordial than actually friendly. "Hey Buffy, I think I am about ready to heck out here. Can you ring this stuff up for me? Thanks." The wizard glances up at Nick, giving the man a polite nod before he makes his way over towards the main counter.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers bites her lip, grimacing at Cordy and the 'romantic music' she starts playing. "Oh, real cute, Cordie.." she sighs, "Well, I may as well introduce you two. Cordelia, this is Thomas and Harry, Thomas and Harry meet Cordelia. My..Err..Friend." the way she hesitates may hint at the 'closeness' that they share. Hah.

However, looking back at the don't-know-it-yet brothers, this is something they need to do in private, but..Getting the two of them together like this is rare. She frowns softly, and just nods to Thomas with a soft sigh before glancing back at Harry and Cordie.

"Um..Soo, is there anything I can help any of you find? Oh." Looks like Harry at least is done, and Buffy nods with a little resigned sigh, beginning to ring his goods through. She notes the entrance of Nick too, nodding and smiling at him faintly, though she seems..Frustrated about something. "Hey, Nick.."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Hearing his name, Nick turns his head, looking back over to Thomas, giving a nod, seeing the other man give a nod, he turns, returning the greeting in kind, not knowing who it is. Another nod to Buffy, and then one to Cordelia as well. He glances over to Buffy, "Did I come at a bad time?"

Cordelia Chase has posed:
Cordie takes a look at Nick and just...flees. Out the door she goes. Well, out the door by opening it face first. That thud? Yeah that's Cordie showing she doesn't do opening doors with hands...nope. Not this girl. Ow, the indignity of it!

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith sighs a little bit but does nod slightly to Buffy, in acknowledgement for her unspoken words. "Hey Harry, I was wondering... if I could talk to you about something. A case of sorts... It involvs... it involves my family.. My sister Inari mostly.. one or two other members... This isn't the place but..."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry glances back at Thomas as he pulls out his wallet to pay for his purchases, "Hrm? Sure. Come by the office sometime and we can chat." At least he wizard is open to hearing the incubus out. It's better than just shutting him down entirely. Looking at the total on the register, Harry pulls out the appropriate bills and places them down onto the countertop.

Buffy Summers has posed:
"No, no, it's nothing Nick..Come on in! How are you doing? Have you met Harry yet? He's..He's Murphy boyfriend actually, and a really powerful Wizard. Helps us out a lot on..Cases." No reason to be secretive there. They're in a magic shop afterall. "Harry, I'd like you to meet my friend Nick.." Probably best to leave out the part about him occasionally working at Thomas' club though.

Glancing sidelong at Thomas, she smiles softly at him, giving his hand a little squeeze before letting go, glancing next at Harry, eager to see his reaction to that..

And she smiles a bit more warmly to Harry as he seems more open to that. "Thank you, Harry.." she murmurs softly, ringing his items through and giving him some change. "Good seeing you again, come by again soon, and say hi to Karrin for me?"

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden nods to Buffy, taking the change back and taking the thank you as in for the purchase, not for the proposed talk. He glances back at Nick and nods, "Hey there...Nick was it. A pleasure. Listen, I'd love to stay and chat but I have got to go. I need to go get Karrin."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's head turns as the movement of Cordelia's flight draws his attention. Weight shifting on the feet to allow for him to turn his body, preventing himself the need to go full owl, he sees enough of the collision to tilt his head in reaction. "Huh. What an odd duck."

Hearing Thomas call the other guy Harry, his head turns to look over to the detective. Is that...?

And then Buffy confirms, "Oh yeah." Nick replies, giving a friendly smile as he nods to the detective, "Karrin talks about you a lot. Nice to meet you."

He'd offer his hand but it looks like Harry's on his way out.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith sighs a bit as folks leaves, giving his lover a look that says basically, "Alright I did it." he sighs a bit and leans agienst the counter, opening the bag and pulling out two styrofoam boxes and setting them on the counter. "So I'm here for the company, what drags you to these parts Nick?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers watches Harry quietly until he leaves, sighing softly and shaking her head. "Seriously need to get that guy drunk one of these days. He's waaaay too uptight."

She looks to Thomas and just smiles. "C'mon, it'll be alright..Sooo what have you got there?" she smiles, sniffing the air. "Ooh is that dinner? I'm starved! Anya should be back soon to take over. Shall we relax in the back for a bit?"

Buffy nods to Nick. "Good to see you again..I'm finally getting some good sleep for a change. No more nightmares for a while, only things have been a bit too quiet lately." and that bothers her just as much as the opposite for some reason.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"More to give a followup about what happened at St. Francis last week." Nick answers Thomas, glancing to Buffy, smile strengthening at the news, "And good on the cutback on nightmares thing. I take it the tea's helping?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nos slightly pulling a bottle of wine from a second bag and smiling to Buffy, "Chicken Marasla. Curtasy of Smash actually. It's his wife's birthday, and I let him use the kitchen at the club if he agreed to make two extra plates. I've been smelling it the whole way over here." He says amused. He leans back agienst the counter looking amused, "Saint Francis?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smirks, leaning over to inhale the warm and spicy aroma of the meal. "Awwe, geez Thomas, you spoil me silly..Smells good! c'mon!" she steps around the counter, leading them both to the back, towards a small, private kitchenette, the moment that Anya appears to take over her shift with a chipper smile and nod to Buffy.

To Nick, she nods and smiles, "Yeah, it's nice to be able to sleep peacefully for a change. Don't even remember my dreams lately." she does quirk a curious brow at him, "Soo, got some new information about what happened there?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick's smile fades, "Well, it's looking like it's an ongoing thing. Not just that shelter. Another shelter had an issue with the targeting of their mutant residents. Talked with one of the heads, he's going to be looking around for any more recent instances and let me know what he finds. My guess is with the number of suits that showed up last week, that particular group is probably going to try another location for a bit."

He pauses, looking at Buffy, "You're still getting dreams, but just not of the nightmare kind, right?"

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith grins slightly and says "I'm glad you approve." He pulls out two plastic cups, not having brought proper wine glasses in the car ride over here. Hell he drives like a maniac and he knows it. He tilts his head, "Only brought enough food for two Nick, but care for a bit of wine?" he asks with a smile, tilting his head. "Anything I can do to help?" He asks simply with an easy smile.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smiles, "It's okay, he can have a bit of mine, if you haven't eaten already." she glances back at Nick thoughtfully, nodding with a slight frown. "Hmmm, wonder what they're after, exactly. Was anything..Stolen from the shelter? Perhaps they're looking for something.."

She nods again, "Yeah, just dreams, no nightmares..Unfortunately that means no prophetic nightmares either, which I could really use right now."

Buffy sighs, "I'm getting no leads on the missing kids since we went to the vampire club a ways back. I need to touch base with Angel, but don't think he's found anything new yet either. It's a bit worrisome, every second, someone else can be turned..." And for a moment, Buffy's gaze drifts to a spot on the wall, staring aimlessly as her mind ponders over that. There's nothing she hates more than feeling helpless.

With a slight frown, Buffy slides into a chair at the small kitchenette table, openning her meal and picking at it hungrily but distracted still.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"That's alright," Nick replies, shaking his head, "I wasn't planning to stay long, just enough to relay some information. No mention of belongings being taken. Just- people. At the very least they're thinking scientists for the mutant targeting. But..."

He shakes his head, "Um. That spell I did would have worn off after a couple of days, so if you're not getting visions right now, it might be because there aren't any to be have at the moment regarding what you're responsible for. They might still be regrouping."

He looks over to Thomas, "If you for some reason overhear anything about homeless shelters and human trafficking, just let us know."

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith nods slightly to Nick. "We have some homeless that hang around the Club. I usually feed them anything I'd have to throw away at the end of the night. So I'll ask them if they've heard anything. If the know anything they'll likely tell me.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers nods to Nick. "Odd. Soo they're either going after mutants or homeless or.." she frowns, trying to make the connection. "Um people they think wont be missed? If they're experimenting on them or something, that'd make sense. Well, I'll keep an eye out for them"

As for the spell, she nods and sighs, "Right. Guess things are just quiet or..I dunno, prophetic dreams arent exactly something I can summon on order." she shrugs, "I really hope I can find something though, soon..."

She continues to pick away at her meal, still troubled.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick nods to Thomas, "Thanks. That'd be appreciated." He glances to the cartons and gives a small smile as he backs to the door. "Well, I'll leave you two to eat. I have a flight to get ready for anyways. Oh and if you see Chase again, tell her I said 'Hey Mercedes'. She'll know what I mean. Later guys."

Door swinging open, the musician steps out.

Thomas Raith has posed:
Thomas Raith gives Nick a two fingered salute and takes a chair next to Buffy. "So someone is taking out people that won't be missed. You figure we got some sort of predator out there?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns, nodding slowly. "Maybe...Wonder if it's connected to Armastus and his little vamp army? Guess we should keep an eye on homeless shelters then.." she munches some more on her meal in silence, sighing a bit. "Maybe I'm just too much of a worrywart, I'm sure things will sort themselves out eventually, right? Maybe I just need to double my patrols.."