12882/A discerning customer

A discerning customer
Date of Scene:	23 March 2021
Location:	Fontainebleu Antiques, Yonkers
Synopsis:	Watching the Watcher and doing business
Cast of Characters:	Hellequin, Rupert Giles

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Hellequin has posed:
The newly opened Antique store - Fontainebleau Antiques - is now open for business! There are still a few crates here and there - which crates also look quite antique. Otherwise, this shop, despite displays of specialized glass and security system, looks a bit like a museum of Medieval history. In the background, one can hear the soft music of medieval instruments.

And busy with unpacking the last of the antique books at the back, while there are no customers in the store, is the owner of the place, Henri de Fontainebleau. A man in his thirties, with the shape of an athlete rather than one of a man of letters. He's wearing a light grey suit, with a royal blue tie. The only one thing seemingly out of place, is his haircut, with hair at shoulder length.

Rupert Giles has posed:
There had been a post on one of the places followed on social media. A new antique place. It's a little off of the beaten path that Rupert Giles tends to follow, and he's a couple of days after it had alerted on his phone. But, to be fair, he can be forgiven for that. He'd been quite out of town at the time. Now it is that he comes to visit the place that he'd been alerted to. He tries to always check out new places that carry old things. There might be something interesting he can add to his own collection, afterall. Stranger things have happened than not finding new and interesting things.

Giles pauses outside and looks at the signage. Fontainebluea. Why did it have to be a French name? Giles shakes his head and his lips curl up ever so slightly. He gathers himself and pushes open the door to step inside. And there is met with something he is quite at home with. Museums. He stands in the doorway for a few breaths, just taking in the ambiance before he remembers that hey, there might be people coming in behind him.

Thus, he takes a few steps further inside. He looks like ... well. A professor from the English countryside. Let's face it, Giles isn't exactly known for his fashion sense. He can be said, at least, to rarely have clashing colors. Today he's wearing a knit sweater in shades of blue and grey. Slacks of a deeper slate grey with a matching vest over the sweater. A tie that, what can be seen of it, has fish of all things on it. Tropical fish on a cerulean background. Polished brown shoes. Loafers of some sort. His dark hair is short and tidy, and just touched with grey at the temples. Glasses perch on his nose. All in all, he looks like a book worm or an antiques enthusiast. Until one looks past the exterior to note how tall he is and that his physique doesn't look bookish at all.

His feet take him toward the side with the cases, of course, and the illuminations contained within. What's not to like about illuminations? A single glance is cast to the longer haired gentleman as he steps up to the case. A single nod. And then his eyes have time for nothing but that which is contained within the cases.

Hellequin has posed:
Did he need to hear the door opening to let a customer in, or is he just that good at feeling mortals around him? In this case, it was actually the reflection provided by the glass display. Slowly, Henri turns sideways, stepping back, as if to leave more room for the customer to admire the many antique books.

"Ah, bonjour monsieur!" comes Henri's low, deep voice. "Welcome. Please, have a look. If you need anything, pray let me know and I will be happy to help you. I read them all," his large hand motioning over the whole display, "And most are first edition."

On that Henri steps back again, to empty yet another box of books, which he piles up on a table before placing them in the display. While moving around, Henri glances at Rupert, not offensively, but rather with a hint of curiosity.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Often times, for Giles at least, it's more a combination of things that alert him to new people in his own shop. As extra room is made, he glances at the one doing the extra room making. "Bonjour," he replies to the greeting. There's not much of an acccent there to the french word, just a /touch/ of England. Otherwise, he speaks it like he's very fluent. And then he speaks in English, and the touch of England becomes more than a touch. "Thank you. I will." He turns his head to study the younger man, a smile curling his lips again. "It is a pleasure to meet a fellow enthusiast," he says. "I'm impressed that most are first edition. Those can be... difficult at best to find."

If Giles is offended at the curious glances, he doesn't show it. In fact, he's become absorbed enough in the books that he might not be noticing those glances at all. But, let's face it. With those books? Yeah. Rupert Giles is very much focused on them. He lifts a hand to adjust his glasses as he's reading one of the spines. He gets a bit closer, but is careful not to touch anything. One sign of someone who is intimate with antiques.

Hellequin has posed:
And again, years of experience as a seller, Henri can recognize a /real/ enthusiast. Offering a quick smile, he steps forward and unlocks the protective display. But not the one containing the Malleus.

"Please, monsieur, you can look inside the books. Some are annoted, which, as you know, often is a bonus."

And once again, Henri steps back and returns to unpacking some more books, careful not to annoy a customer. Is there something more annoying than a pesty seller?

The store is still quiet, with only Rupert as a customer and Henri unpacking. Slow day. The owner seems to hesitate and chat with Rupert, between breaking the silence and minding his business. At last, arms full of books, he returns to the display to add them with the others.

"If you are looking for a specific title, monsieur, pray let me know. And I will find it."

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles is that. A real enthusiast. He's not just there to look, but perhaps to buy if something for sale catches his eyes. The Malleus has, as of yet, not been noticed. He hasn't quite gotten that far along the cases to see it just yet. But he will. Ohhh, he will. As the cases are unlocked, and permission for touching is granted... Oh Giles. He looks like a kid let loose in a candy shop for the first time in his life.

He steps closer, running a finger gently along the edge of the cover of the nearest of the books. Then he opens it and starts to read. And there he remains, flipping slowly and quietly through the pages until the silence is broken once more.

Giles blinks and raises his head. He seems to have quite forgotten he wasn't in a library or some such, so focused on the book was he. "Hm? Oh. Nothing specific, no," he says. "But interesting and old in any combination has potential. Are any of these for sale? I am always looking to add to my own collection."

Hellequin has posed:
He's many things, Henri, antiquarian, Medieval specialist and... and something else that would not be seen by daytime. By daytime, he is the businessman. And as such, and since it is definitely a slow day, Henri decides to put his customer at ease and brings him a chair. Not extra confy, wooden chair, still it can be perceived as an invitation for Rupert to take his time and enjoy the books.

"All for sale, oui monsieur," Henri replies, "But for one, in the special display. And yes, I am open to... negociating."
That he is indeed, but only when it comes to antiques and prices. Never when it comes to his nightly endeavours.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles is also many things. Most of them relating to libraries or museums! The other things... those he does not share with most people either. And then there is a chair. This results in a nod of thanks for the proprieter of the establishment. "Thank you." And it is used. With a distracted air, Giles sits down and continues to peruse the book.

Rupert keeps half an ear, and less that of his mind, on the present, though. Because he's not alone and it's a good habit to remember to actually do so. He blinks and looks up. "Special display?" He rises to his feet and looks at said special display. And its contents. There's a single blink, and a slow nod. "Malleus Maleficarum," he says with perfect enunciation. "I have only ever seen one copy of this book." He lifts his head and looks over to the shop's owner. "How you came across it must be an interesting tale all on its own." Asking, without asking, how it had come to be.

Hellequin has posed:
Ah, finally, someone who knows real treasures. Filled with pride about his most precious possession, Henri stops staking old books and returns near the display at the back. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, he offers a large smile. Is it guenine? Hard to tell.

"Family heirloom," he finally states. "I mean, back then, we had a few members of the family interested in such things." He pauses, then adds, his voice filled with what could be perceived as pride, "So this one is not for sale. If you are interested in such topic, I also have many old Roman Ritual exorcism books. Perfect to rest in peace, would you say?" Was that a joke? "There are still packed, I can have them out if you want to look at them."

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles actually stops, and glances more about the shop. He notes things, here and there, but doesn't say or do anything. He seems genuinely interested in the things he sees about the hunting of witches, especially. Whether or not the younger man's smile is genuine doesn't seem to really effect Giles overly much. "Ah. Familiy heirlooms are the best," he says with apparent enthusiasm, and a warm smile to go along with it. One that does actually touch his eyes. He's serious about family heirlooms, it would seem.

"Ah, on that I cannot say I blame you. I wouldn't sell my family heirlooms either." Which gives hints that he has such things. He looks interested at the Roman Ritual exorcism books. "Please. I would like to have a look at them. They may be ideal for my collection."

Hellequin has posed:
Always happy to please, Henri quickly looks at the remaining unpacked books, and easily picks up the right one. It has an ancient marking on it, obviously made recently with a Sharpie, a mix of old lettering and old numbering, used by clerics centuries ago.

Henri returns with the opened box, and places it on the floor by the display.

"Help yourself, have a look," the antiquarian says. Then he pauses, frowning lightly as his eyes meet Rupert's for a brief moment of strange intensity. "I must warn you," he says, "Some people use these exorcism books with ill intentions. I do not take it lightly." Another pause, and another smile of undescript nature. "It is just... important to me that these books be in good hands."

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles watches for a brief moment as there is more unpacking. But then he turns back to the book he'd been perusing before-hand. At least, until the proprieter returns with the book he'd mentioned. This is picked and Giles starts to open it, only to pause at that strangely intense gaze. His blue eyes meet the other man's eyes. He inclines his head to the warning. "I promise these books will be used for good, only. Cross my heart." He even goes so far as to actually cross his heart like he believes fully in what he is saying. He likely does believe exactly what he's saying. Perhaps it's even in the way that Henri means. The smile is returned, and then his eyes fall to the book. He flips it open and starts through it, fingers gentle on the pages. He knows what's he's doing, clearly. After a time, he nods. "I shall purchase this one, if it's for sale. As well as this book," he says, nodding toward the book he'd been reading before getting distracted by the book in the special case. That one seems to be a treatise on how to spot witches and their minions.

Hellequin has posed:
Henri nods appreciatively. Is the appreciation about the guenine nature of Giles' promise, or about his choice of books? No matter what, Henri is visibly pleased.

"Excellent choice, monsieur," he says, smiling a bright smile. "You are a connaisseur, indeed." And with that, the antiquarian returns to the front of the store, to pick an empty box to place the purchased books. Even if the transaction is not finalized. As he walks back to the display at the back wall, he tilts his head slightly, as if considering something. Maybe he's thinking about the prices. Maybe.

"Witches are wicked, and can be difficult to spot. Especially nowadays, when they walk the streets in all impunity. Are you interested in witches, monsieur? Or in anything of that kind of folklore?"

Interesting that Henri would sound certain that witches can be found around, while describing it as folklore.

Rupert Giles has posed:
That the promise really is genuine likely helps. Giles means it when he says these will only be used for good. Of course, their definitions of good might be a bit different.... He inclines his head to the compliment. "It's always nice meeting a fellow enthusiast," he says. It really is, afterall!

He follows to the efront of the store and the transaction is, indeed, finalized. After, he goes back to perusing some of the other books, perhaps with more purchases in mind for later buying.

For himself, Giles doesn't really smell all that much of magic. He is not a magical creature and has no mutations. There is a little of the scent, but it's an old scent, like he hadn't cast a spell in weeks, at least. Maybe longer. He looks up from the latest book he's glancing over and to the younger man.

"Indeed," he says of witches being wicked. Or perhaps of them being difficult to spot. It's hard to say just what he's agreeing to there. "I am. And anything of that kind of folklore, as well as demons and other wicked beings and monsters. I have always held a fascination for such books. How to get rid of them is usually found within their pages. Sometimes hidden, though."

Hellequin has posed:
Henri - or rather Hellequin in this case - never understood how it works exactly, but magic users, cast spells or any magical activity beacon to him. Magic users, he can detect like sharks detect blood in the ocean. With the same determination, he will attack and destroy them. Right now, the magical vibes emanating from Giles are minimal, and could be associated to have been close to a magic user. This requires some attention, and could lead to a covent of witches. Really, this city requires cleansing.

Out of his reveries, Henri smiles and assures, "Oh oui, I have a lot of books on all the folkloric bestiaire. They are presently being shipped, and should arrive soon. By next week, you'll find everything you want, incubus, succubus, garous - I mean, werewolves - sorcerers. The whole infernal carnival!" And some that he especially likes to hunt, like the werewolves and vampires. "Come back next week, and you could then also tell me about your own collection?"

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles doesn't seem to notice the train of the other man's thoughts. However, as though playing right into them, he pulls a business card from his pocket. "If you get anything else interesting in? Or when you do, call me at this number." He offers the business card to Henri. On it is his name, Rupert Giles, the name of his business, The Magic Box, along with his cell number, and the number for the land line in his shop. That, right there, will give Henri all the information he might need about Giles. "Very good. I should like to have a look at what comes in when it does. I don't really need duplicates, but anything I don't already have in my own collection. And I'd be happy to tell you about my collection."

Hellequin has posed:
The visit card is taken, Henri glancing at it quickly. And there, his senses were right, there's something magic with this man. And it's in a box!

Offering his best smile - maybe not the most guenine - Henri says, "I'll make sure to contact you, by some way, when I get the books." Now as to the /way/ Giles will be contacted, depends of the time of day or night. Which the Hellequin has not decided just quite yet. Another case which will require more investigation.

Rupert Giles has posed:
Rupert Giles grins at the other. It might not be the most sincere either! "Good day. I look forward to seeing the rest." He nods to the man and then makes his way out of the shop. And off to.... whatever it is a Giles do.