fandomtownies | Things Reborn; Wednesday [ 05/18 ].

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Things Reborn; Wednesday [ 05/18 ].

Alexander certainly had his work cut out for him today. Unfortunately, none of that work had anything to do with the shop.

It had everything to do with all the scouring of the Alexandria library he had done, inspired as he was by his Try Not To Die!!! workshop. Fandom High's library was certainly impressive, there was no doubt about that, but the same could be said exuberantly for Alexandria's, especially after the less than impressive records of the Vikings. Either way, Alexander had collected many notes, copied out countless maps, and now had them spread out on the counter of Things Reborn. He did not want to waste a single second, when every moment could be used in trying to find some hint of his missing Land of the Green Isles.

It was proving fruitless so far, but who know? Perhaps, just around the next corner of research, there would finally be his key.

Things Reborn is open!

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Because you can!

Because while he doesn't want any interruptions, he probably needs one.

Simon had come in to see about maybe buying some cheap second hand clothes now that his wardrobe was proving severely unsuitable for the island's current location.

But what he really ended up doing was sort of looking quizzical at all of Alexander's maps and notes. "What are you doing?"

Alexander had been following some minute line in suggestion of perhaps a secret water trench on a map so closely that he hadn't even noticed someone had come in until the other boy said something. It made him jump, just a little, fearing for a second for his life and then marveling at how he'd let himself slip into carelessness lately.

Of course, the fact that the other boy was just probably a newer student and not some menacing evil tyrant magician intent on killing him at a minor slip-up (that he knew of) just made him wonder if the growing carelessness was somewhat of a good sign.

"Oh!" he said. "Hello! I didn't---er, um, well, they're maps," he offered. "And notes and things, from the Alexandria library...."

A faint blush started to creep over Alexander's face. "Nothing of too much...er...importance." And he cleared his throat. "Is there something I could help you with?"

"I didn't mean to startle you," Simon replied, apologetically. He knew he had a tendency to walk quietly. Even without invisibility. "I-- I was hoping to find some clothes?"

"Oh, not at all," said Alexander, laughing a little at himself. He shook his head. "I must have just been very into this work, which, really, I shouldn't be. But, yes, we do have some clothes, though the selection is a little hit and miss. Most people will go to Pixie Dust or Turtle & Canary for those."

And that was probably why Alexander would probably never make a very good merchant.

Well, Simon appreciated the honesty, at least. "I was hoping they would be cheap," he explained. "And... more appropriate for the weather." Because that neat button up shirt of his was getting rather uncomfortable. "What were you working on?"

He couldn't help being curious.

"Cheap we can manage," Alexander allowed with a chuckle, "so long as you don't mind smelling slightly of moth balls."

There was no judgement at all in his voice; this was, after all, a man who spent most of his life in rags, despite the finery of his current clothing, so in a way he could sympathize.

"And it's a, uh...project, I suppose." His grin went a little soft, looking wistfully over all the charts and maps he'd been marking. "I've been spending a year trying to locate a land that I fear may not truly exist. I was hoping perhaps the library here in Alexandria may hold some new information for me, but I have found nothing so far. We have only been here a few days, though, so, perhaps...."

He trailed off, sighing. The thought of coming up empty once more was exhausting and a little depressing, he had to admit.

"A possibly nonexistent land?" Simon was new, but he was a quick learner and a keen observer of the world around him, so that didn't confuse him nearly as much as it maybe should have. "What land is it?"

He'd get to the clothes again in a moment.

Yes, it wasn't as though the clothes were an immediate necessity; if they were, they wouldn't likely even be having this conversation.

"The Land of the Green Isles," Alexander said, with a mystic wonder to his voice before his eyes, with a glint of hope, fell toward the other boy. "You haven't heard of it, have you?"

Oh, Simon felt bad about having to say what he had to say. "No. I'm sorry." He shook his head. "Why are you looking for it?"

Alexander had come to expect that response, but that didn't make it any less disappointing when he heard it. He sighed, shaking his head. "It's kind of a long story," he said. "The ending of which I fear must come soon for all the futility in finding the place, and yet....I just can't give up. I mustn't."

Simon nodded. "I-- I think I understand." Well, he had a quest of sorts of his own, and it looked overwhelming, and he was doing it anyway. "Have you made any progress at all?"

Alexander gave the other boy a faint smile; somehow, he felt uncertain that he could really understand, but even a little bit of empathy was always comforting.

"None at all," he admitted. "At this point, I seem to uncover nothing more than what I've already discovered, but who knows where something different might be hiding? If there's anything I've learned in my life, it's that you should never just give up."

"Not even when fighting odds not in your favour," Simon agreed with another nod. "It's a very... heroic way to think."

He may have had a soft spot for that kind of thinking.

[Ugh, self, it helps to actually hit send before leaving a tab.]

"Thank you," Alexander felt a little bolstered by that perspective. "I'm far more used to words like delusional in this instance, but it's good to see there's at least a few people who might think otherwise. I'm Alexander, by the way. You're one of the new students, correct? I don't believe I've seen you around before."

"I've only been here for a few weeks, yes," Simon confirmed with a very brief smile. "I'm Simon. Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you as well, Simon," said Alexander, sincerely, and he regarded his maps for a second with a shake of his head. "Perhaps the break would do me well; I've been studying these since yesterday, and I suppose my brain might need a little bit of a rest. I'll show you where we have the clothes in the shop, though I should warn you again, the pickings are somewhat slim."

And if this was coming from Alexander, of all people....well...

"I'll still take a look," Simon assured him. He was trying to save money as best he could, though he did have limits and maybe it'd come to those today. "If I don't find anything I'll try the other shops."

"They're over here," Alexander directed, moving around the counter, "on the other side of all the furniture. We still have an awful lot of sweaters from the holiday season, but there's probably more seasonal attire in there as well. They didn't sell nearly as well as.....whoever sends us all of these items seems to have expected..."

Because the world can't end on my day off. It's the LAW.

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Things Reborn; Wednesday [ 05/18 ].

Mod your Shopping - 05/18.

Talk to Alexander - 05/18.

Re: Talk to Alexander - 05/18.

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Re: Talk to Alexander - 05/18.

OOC - 05/17.