Off the Record but On the Nose

Off the Record - Main Room(#13005RAM)

	It's not hard to tell what the primary focus of this shop is: books and music. However, a lot of care has been taken to ensure that the shop is comfortable and inviting, if a little chaotic and esoteric in execution. There's an eclectic collection of seating consisting of everything from bistro tables to a couple of reclaimed old 50's style diner booths, and a long wooden service counter with an espresso machine. One glass case holds pastries and other snacks; the other a selection of antique books and rare albums too precious for self-service.

	The retail shelves carry used books for sale; some of them are organized by subject and author, and some of them are organized in some arcane system known only to the shop owner. The records, cassettes and CDs for sale are all alternative and subcultural in nature, with an emphasis on goth, industrial, post-punk, neofolk and experimental - and all of the subgenres inherent to each.

	The walls have been festooned with a collection of posters from Expressionist and Surrealist movies and advertisements for concerts long passed; mixed in are various other pieces from artists like Louis Wain, Austin Osman Spare and Ben Ali Ong. In addition to the main three foci of the place (coffee, music, and books), the shop occasionally sells a variety of other pieces from local artists, some of it actually very good, indeed.

		<<+VIEWS HERE: MENU, STAFF, ALL_AGES>>


	***OOC HIGH BANALITY PCSs: This is primarily a Changeling/related and Tradition Mage hangout. If you're of high Banality you might have a hard time finding RP here, depending on who's here. +rules Sniping applies.***

Contents:
Augusta
Rhae
Rick
Jordan
Obvious Exits:
  Back Hallway <Ha>   Front Door <O>

Augusta, Rick, and Rhae are seated at the counter, having a discussion.

	And into the shop, comes just another one of the disaffected youth that wander the city. You know the sort - the kind that seek out first editions of this or that Cormac McCarthy novel, or a certain vintage original vinyl LP.

	Cen takes a long look around once inside, orienting himself to the space.

Rick glances up as the bell chimes, look over to who walks in, then returns to his conversation.

Rick shifts a bit in his seat, his jovial mood fading. He starts to look a little put off by something. He glances up at the newcomer again.

She winces at the idea of a patron, "More trouble than they are worth." She thanks Jordan for filling her coffee cup. "I'll go my own way, unless it's Stevie Nicks." She considers the gematria. "That is very fitting." She smiles, pleased at her reading. "You'll have to give me your date of birth, time, and place. I'll draw up the chart later. It takes a while. There is also math."

Augusta looks over at the sound of the doorbells jingling, then back to the other two. "Unfortunately, they are. Unfortunately, they're also often the only way for dance companies to make money, as far as I'm aware." She sniffs the air lightly, then wrinkles her nose briefly.

	It's the smell of coffee that will gather Cen's attention first, after he's taken the measure of the place. And look! They have pastries too! The youth's eyebrows arch in surprise, and maybe even a hint of delight, before he thrusts his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and he slowly makes his way over to peek at the pastries on display. A small sigh, and he'll do his very best to maintain social distance (despite the lack of an IN GAME pandemic).

Rick turns his back towards Ceniza as he pulls out a pad of paper. He jots a date down and a few other words, then slides the slip of paper towards Rhae. Again, he's not going to trod on the ladies conversations.

"In today's world you do what you have to, cat commercial or CATS!" Rhae says. "Artists have always done what they had to to survive. Do you do some sort of retail, Augusta? You mentioned selling pieces."

Rhae takes the paper and slides it into her journal. "Thanks. Did you put your email so I can contact you later?"

Augusta reaches into her purse and pulls out a business card listing her as "Augusta Landreau, Expert Evaluator, Landreau Galleries." She offers this to Rhae. "My family trades in antiquities," she explains.

Rick ahhs "No, sorry, i forgot. Dee1586 at gmail."

Rhae writes down the address and puts it in the fold of her journal. "Oh, OK! Wow. That must be very interesting, but do people just want old couches or clocks? I grew up on a farm. I have no idea what antiques people like."

	Cen crouches down a little, so that he can see what the days offerings on pastry happen to be. His curious eyes also dart behind the counter, looking to see what sorts of roasts they have for the espresso beverages.

Augusta shakes her head. "Antiquities," she corrects. "Things from the ancient world. We do carry some old books, and the occasional antique, but most of what we trade is Classical era or earlier for European and Near Eastern artifacts, and pre-Columbian for American pieces." She raises one eyebrow at Rick's comments. "A John Dee reference?"

Ethan comes in from the street.
Ethan has arrived.

Rick glances over towards Augusta, and says something to her a bit more quietly as the place starts to fill up.

	Cen is over by the pastry display, looking at the delectable treats on show, as well as checking out the types of beans available for espresso ground beverages.
Augusta, Rick, and Rhae are at the counter, speaking. Augusta wrinkles her nose again for a moment at something.

"Oh, like Indiana Jones," Rhae says. "Altertümer. I see, yes. I didn't not realize they were different words. I do not understand how things so old could be boring, or is that relative?" She glances over at Rick having not gotten the reference." She glances around with a sniff. "Speaking of farms...did someone step in dog doo-doo? Not to be rudee, but what is that smell?"

"Not sure," Jordan shaking his head and pulls a bottle of Febreeze from under the counter. He starts to hunt the direction of the smell.

Augusta nods to Rick. "I've read it. I wasn't overly impressed." She tilts her head slightly to Rhae. "They're all fascinating, but some are nonetheless more interesting than others. Pre-Columbian pottery is quite popular, though I've always found ancient common kitchenware to be some of the least interesting pieces."

Ethan comes walking in, and was just going up towards the front to wave at Jordan but frowns confusedly at the stink-hunt. "Hey Jordan, I thought Stinking Cloud was a Thee Oh Sees single. You abandoning your post?"

Rhae waves to Ethan. "Guten Tag, Ethan," she says. "Come join us if you have time."

Augusta follows Rhae's gaze to Ethan. "Would that be Mr. Balance's brother?" she asks her.

	Thee Oh Sees! Cen looks over a shoulder at the mention of the west coast rock band, and offers a small shy smile at Ethan. "They weren't really the same after they moved down south and outta the Bay. But they're still pretty great. They have their stuff here?"

Rick arches an eye at Augusta's comment "What specifically didn't you like? While Kelley was known to be a scoundrel, Dee seems to be pretty coherent. Alright, so it wasn't as good as 'De Heptarchia Mystica', I will give you that."

Ethan leaves Jordan alone and tentatively waves at Rhae, saying "Hey... Rhae. Thanks, I would, but I was really just---" while walking away from the register and past the display counter towards the sitting spaces, but stops because Ceniza talked to him.

Rick follows Augusta's gaze, spots Ethan, and gives a wave of friendly greeting.

Ethan also waved at Rick, but he thumbs at the stacks of records and says to Ceniza "Probably, I---" and the 'I' goes through a couple other vowels as his face contorts, so he claps a hand over his mouth and nose. "--not the music guy, oh geez."

	Cen gives Ethan a head nod, "Orc was a pretty good album, though. New drummer gave the whole sound kind of a diff kick, y'know?"

"I do not know," Rhae replies to Augusta, the thought just occurred to her. She kisses Ethan hello in the European way. "Are you John's brother? Are you sure you can't stay for an espresso? That is the one in the tiny cup that packs a pow!" She makes an explosion gesture with her hand.

"The entire idea of summoning angels to solve one's problems is lazy," Augusta says frankly to Rick. "It's the same impulse behind getting rich quick or losing thirty pounds in thirty days, wrapped up in spiritual trappings."

Rick purses his lips. Oh, its on. Or it would be. He glances at his watch and curses under his breath "I need run, but I challenge you on that point. Besides, i need some fresh air." he rises from his seat "Rhae, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Ethan says slightly muffled, "Dude, I dunno. All I do know is whatever pine needles or other hippie crap you rubbed on to hide the rubbed-on dirt? Is NOT working," to Ceniza. He waves at Rick, or perhaps just waves his hand about. "I.. have a sensitive nose."

Ethan also would have added to Rhae, in no position to try and avoid a kiss-hello, "Don't think my face needs any more pow, right now."

	Cen flushes a little at Ethan's remark, "Oh damn, 'm sorry." The youth shrugs into his hoodie and takes a step back. "'m new to town, picking up odd jobs, don't yet have a perm crash space an' stuff, so the hostel." A pause as he averts his eyes, "Didn't have time to take a shower after work, or change clothes."

Augusta inclines her head to Rick. "A pleasure meeting you," she says, in that same chilly voice she's had throughout this entire conversation.

To Augusta Rhae says, "But speaking with the angels? I can't imagine the ecstasy. What would they say, I wonder?"
To Ethan: "It does not. Your face looks fine. Do you know my friend Augusta? She is a mutual friend of John's."

Ethan backs up a step, "Right, of course, lotsa new people in town, nothing personal, s'no worse than the gym rats," he says at Ceniza, and waves pointing with his free hand towards Rhae and Augusta, "See, more new people, one I didn't even know I knew..."

	Cen looks to Augusta, then to Rhae, offering quietly. "The angels, they get called on and prayed to for help. Not like les mystères, who are not prayed to, but served. Some can be pretty fun though." Then he looks to the rest after Ethan makes semi-intros, though Cen will do well to keep outta people's personal space best he can. Looking back to Ethan, "Any retail around here lookin' for help? Janitorial, that sorta thing?"

"Likely something incomprehensible - and if you were wise enough to comprehend it, you'd likely be wise enough to not need to talk to angels in the first place," Augusta remarks. She follows Rhae's attention to Ethan and inclines her head. "Augusta Landreau. You are Mr. Balance's brother? I spoke with him the other day."

Ethan appears just a touch overwhelmed at all the input. He says "Nowhere here. Try Styx & Stones on F & 4th, they literally do not care how you smell, and Skyn a few blocks south of here. Always needing new people," and then again "Yes, John's my brother, if you would excuse me a moment please," the last like he is trying to get as many words on the last of his exhale as he can, and goes over to near the back hallway entrance where he is not near anyone.

"We crawl before we walk. Ga ga before we speak," Rhae says. "For some, perhaps, hearing the words of an angel is, how do you say, aspire. To aspire for. For others, maybe they fly by their bootstraps." She shrugs. "I would watch that video if there were one, I can say that."
Regarding Ethan: "I did not think you and John looked like brothers accept by marriage. I am glad to know I was not wrong on that account."

	Cen gives Ethan a nod, and a smile of gratitude. "Styx and Stones. Skyn. Due south." he repeats, making mental note of the information. "Thanks, man, I really appreciate the leads, I'll buy you a coffee or beer sometime if I can get some extra work to have a little coin. I won't forget your kindness," he offers earnestly before taking another step back from the crowd. "And I'll be back to look for any Thee Oh Cees or other cool tunes too."

Augusta nods to Ethan as he excuses himself. She looks like she might say something more to Rhae, but a muffled ring sounds from inside her purse. "We should continue this conversation later. I have business to attend to, my apologies." She gets to her feet, a process made slightly more involved by the presence of her cane.

"Of course," Rhae says. "I will stop by your shop to see some -antiquities-." She smiles, proud to be using the correct word.

Ethan waves at Ceniza, saying "Sure thing, man. Put it in the pending jar at Roasters, help somebody else out."
Rhae waves Ethan good-bye.

Augusta inclines her head to Rhae again. "Good luck with your dance company, and the cat food commercials." She nods to Ethan, and then limps her way out.

Ethan heads to the hallway at the back of the shop.
Ethan has left.

	Cen makes for the exit, a small smile upon his face for the small kindnesses shown him this day. Even if he DID smell like a freshly dug grave.