the-inkwell-bookstore

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

A familiar and yet unfamiliar woman totters into the Inkwell Bookstore on crooked legs, notably short of an eye. She doesn't quite seem to have her head on straight. Literally. It's bent at an angle.

"Sorry. Do you happen to have any books for young girls?"

@detritus-of-the-earth

'Marie' is in the same place 'she' always is. Perhaps 'she''s scared to leave, or perhaps it's just easier not to. But 'she' has met this thing that claims to be a woman before.

"I am not sure," 'she' says, tilting 'her' head just a bit too far to the left. "We have books for children. They are in the section labelled, 'Children'."

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

It crumples to the floor like a used tissue and wishes, desperately, that it could cry.

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Its form hollows around spi's hand, recoiling bodily in vindictive disgust. Eyes that have never been rightfully its own burn hotly with embarrassment and something that can't truly be tears.

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Elaine shrugs. "Could be. Either way she clearly wants to spend time with you, so I count that as a win!"

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Its heart hurts. It does not have a heart. It cannot feel pain. None of it is real.

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"I can! I do!" it wails, stomping its foot like a petulant child. Its existence flickers at the edges, warped and melting like taffy. Its voice is something else entirely. "I feel!"

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"Yeah, yeah." She flicks Pakhet in the forehead, softening a bit as she takes a moment to glance around the store. It's not as though she'll get through to her right now anyway.

The corner of her mouth lifts, and she turns back to the fox at the register beside her. "Congrats on landing a date, though."

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"None of this is funny." 'She'- it- 'she' wants... 'she' doesn't want anything. None of the things 'she''s supposed to, at least. And that fact scares 'her' more than the Dreaming ever could.

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Elaine frowns. "Oh, honey..."

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"Dude. You literally did fine. She asked to hang out! How in the world would that mean you'd fucked it up??"

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"I was made to get rid of people."

'She' was summoned to dispose of the unwanted. The Bookkeeper hadn't seemed to realize that that would involve 'her' becoming them, though.

"I do not want you here. I do not know why you are."

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

She pats its head. "You did fine."

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"I do not like you." If 'she' had remembered to give 'herself' tear ducts, 'her' eyes would be burning about now. But 'she' hadn't. Another reminder 'she''ll never be human.

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Elaine joins her at the register as Dani leaves, propping her elbows on the counter and her chin in her hands. She grins at Pakhet knowingly. "Babe?"

A sign on the shop's door reads 'Promotion Sale- 25% off!'

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

i can hear you

Oh- I- ...you can? Thank everything, I've been calling for ages- blast this damned device-

Damn it, I don't have- someone's coming, I-

Who are you?

...you can see me?

What do you mean? Of course I can see you, that's-- never mind. This is a restricted area. Who are you?

I, er- terribly sorry, I appear to have gotten a tad- i-if you could-- bollocks, I'm not doing this right. You're... you're not supposed to be able to see me.

What is... that? ...Why are you...

A-ah. This is, er... my book! Lovely little... abode. please don't tell him I got out

...You're a ghost, aren't you?

...nooo...?

I've never been able to talk to a regret before.

I'm not a-

Whose are you?

No one's! I'm- damn it. ...Fine. I'm James. Real alive sentient person, o-or I... I suppose I used to be. A-and you must be...?

Riiiight. ...I'm... I'm Mallory.

[click]

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

"I know what hope is." Maybe if 'she' says it enough times, 'she''ll start to believe it. "You are making assumptions. Maybe I am more than what you think."

'She' isn't.

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.