sticks and stones and words

Remy Irving - 36 - Book Restoration - Private blog for Crescent Hill RP group

[remy-irving]

flissthomas​:

“Well you will with that attitude” She scolded him playfully. “In all seriousness, are you happy? That matters to me.” 

Remy dropped some of the playfulness and looked away from his friend. He couldn’t lie to her. “I wish I was. I thought I’d give up on all that anger I had as a kid. But since my Aunt died it’s all come rushing back. It’s just all so unfair, why was I born without even a touch of magic.” He said, his voice dropping low and  dangerous. It was a question that had haunted him for years.

[remy-irving]

nateharrisonchills​:

“You memorised them, you might as well get use out of them. I like that kind of thinking,” Nate laughed. “I’ll start saying that to my students. I mean, I quote songs and video games… and cheesy movies. Poor kids,” he joked. “Love makes the best of us a little crazy.”

“I am, so I’m glad I seem it. Maybe that’s my face, my interests, just me.” He nodded, he wasn’t ashamed to be himself. He’d always been that way. “Exactly, it’s there for a reason. We all need a little corny from time to time. And my best friend is a girl, she definitely influenced my movie choices a lot.” He gave another nod. “That’s cool, thank you.”

“I guess, I’m getting that vibe sometimes. My aunt and uncle moved here. And uh well, when my mom died, she welcomed me here too. I’m grateful for my aunt. Not that you need to know my story. I’m a talker.” He laughed a little. “You really think so? Like we were meant to end up here?”

“I’ve made a few presentations to the elementary schools before, I could do the same with your classes if you’d like. Poetry or otherwise, it would be nice to get out of my hole from time to time.” Remy offered offhandedly. “And then I get to find more reason’s to use all the useless things I’ve got memorized.” 

“I will heartedly admit, I did not want to move here as a teenager. I came at my parents insistence. They thought my aunt would be a good influence on me.” He leveled, a little bit of his usual resentment peaking through. “I’d always thought I’d go to college and take the opportunity to leave it all.” He glanced at the things he’d amassed around them, they felt like anchors.

“But here I am.” He finished lamely. “It’s hard to say if we’re meant to be here, but now that we are I can’t see it resulting in anything ordinary. There’s strong magic here.” He said honestly, but immediately hedged a little. “Generally speaking, the magic of like friendship...” He said, trying to make it seem like he wasn’t speaking literally and probably making it worse so he just finished, “The lessons of history are all learned in hindsight so we won’t really know until it happens.”

[remy-irving]

oh-jazzy​:

Jazz was quite startled by the man’s movements, but equally amused. She moved closer slowly, listening carefully to the sounds. Although she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what was going on. She ducked to begin with, holding her arms out to catch the small rock. Although her eyes focussed on the stone. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of it. 

She finally dragged her gaze from it. “What… is this?” She asked. “I mean i definitely can. I just… i feel… something from it.”

“Right!?”

Remy was used to never feeling anything from magical items, their power lost on someone like him, but this was different. Sometimes a hum, sometimes a rumbling roar, it seemed like if you put it to your ear you could always hear something different as if from a distance. “I have no idea.” He deflated a little.

“Can’t find anything in the history books, though I’m still waiting on books from the local orgs to double check.” He meant the coven, and other supernatural  groups, but it was just an easy way to cover his basis and keep people out of the loop if need be. “Could be the holes are just an interesting acoustic phenomena or something else.” He said. “But I have a hunch there are more like that out in the woods.” Remy said.

[remy-irving]

nateharrisonchills​:

Nate smile, nodding as Remy spoke. “Shakespeare, right? I mean, I don’t know it word for word but I have done some as a teacher,” he laughed a little. “Don’t overthink. That’s something I tell myself a lot. But thank you, I really hope so too.”

“Well, not all tropes have to be a bad thing. I kind of like corny and all that stuff,” he shrugged lightly. “Or maybe I just watch too much TV.” He nodded, his family had plenty of money but no doubt they had hidden scandal. Though he never invested his time into their world. He’d never fit in there.

Nate nodded in agreement. “That is very true. They don’t change. And well, relationships in my family are definitely not easy.” He smiled. “I guess this place became home to me after a hard time in my life. I don’t want to leave.” He laughed once more a the guy’s knocking gesture. “Best to be safe.”

"When in doubt it’s hard to go wrong with the bard, besides the sonnets are something I memorized early in college. I have to bust them out from time to time or else I did that for nothing.” Remy said, “We all do dumb things for love.” He shrugged.

“You seemed like the corny type.” Remy said, though he wasn’t any better just his go to was cheesy books and poems. “Yes, I guess as long as it’s not a bad stereotype a little corniness can’t hurt. “We’ll see if I find anything, but I figured I’d be upfront.”

“I love it too, but it’s hard to deny this place collects hard times.” He said solemnly. While things had been relatively peaceful, that always seemed to precede very tumultuous times if the histories were correct. He hated thinking they were heading towards calamity. “I’m not one to believe in destiny, you know, but this place certainly makes me feel a strange type of way.” He said, a little lost in thought.

[remy-irving]

nateharrisonchills​:

Nate laughed a little. “Sorry. I actually, don’t want to jinx it yet. Crossing that friendship is a pretty new thing. But love of my life sounds pretty good to me.”

He nodded. “Cool, cool. Thank you, I know you said you’re busy. I really do appreciate it. And honestly, money is no issue.” He raised a brow. “Secret compartments? Has that really happened before?”

“No, I do get that. I’m lucky to have my aunt and uncle too. Though my relationship with my dad is complicated. Not… that you asked me to tell you all that,” he pulled a face, laughing at himself. “That’s true, it must keep you busy. Her estate. The job. I enjoy being here. It’s why I came back and took the teaching job.”

"More than that tongue that more hath more express’d. O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: To hear with eyes belongs to love’s fine wit.”

Remy rattled off the end of the memorized Shakespeare sonnet, like some pretentious college student. “Or you know don’t overthink it. Actions speak louder than words after all and giving her this as a gift is probably akin to shouting it from the rooftops. I’m sure she’ll really appreciate it.”

“As much as it seems like that stuff only happens in movies, it’s a trope for a reason. False bottoms in drawers and hollow book spines are the most common. But it’s not always mind blowing secrets, mind you, sometimes it’s just an extra bit of money hidden away or a naughty picture.” He laughed. “People never change.” He concluded.

“Family relationships are not always easy.” He said, understanding the guy, but having no urge to share any more of his family damage. “It’s not a bad place, once you get used to, ya know, it’s quirks. I wouldn’t dream to leave.” But he knocked on the wood panel of the counter, just in case like Nate had said, he jinxed something.

[remy-irving]

nateharrisonchills​:

Nate continued to smile, his eyes glancing around the store for a few moments before looking back to his items. It was a strange feeling but he felt ready. His mom wasn’t here anymore and Jazz was important to him. He wanted to share this part of his life with her fully.  “Good, me too. All sounds good,” he replied.

He pulled the papers towards him, scanning the words for a few moments before signing his name in the right places. “She is, she’s my best friend. I want to share everything with her,” he laughed slightly at himself, the words sounding corny but he meant them. “That’s really kind of you. I appreciate it.” Smiling once more as he handed the papers back to him. 

“I am sorry to hear that. And you decided to stay in town anyway?” he asked, closing his now lighter bag. 

Remy gave an awkward nod, but he couldn’t say he didn’t understand the sentiment. “Alright I get it. I get it. She’s the love of your life. No need to rub it in to us single people.” He teased and set the precious items away, to work on later, before looking over the finished forms.

“I’ll have an estimate for you by the end of the week, and give you a break down of what I plan to do. And of course inform you of any secret compartments!” He joked, but it happened more often than you would think.

“I’m not the closest with my family to begin with, and besides my aunt left a whole estate of things I have to sort through before I could even consider going anywhere else.” He shrugged, “Can’t say I hate the place either. Lotta interesting things to keep me busy.” He said with a general wave to the walls around them.

[remy-irving]

chefdwight​:

“There you go, that’s exactly what I like to hear. I mean, not that I think you’re a terrible cook, I wouldn’t know. But that is great business for me,” he laughed. “I’ll hold you to that,” Dwight joked. “Fliss did do a good party though.” He smiled to himself as he mentioned the girl. 

"Pray that you never find out.” Remy said, scrunching his face. “I blame having too many useless facts clogging up the space I could be using for knowing how to cook.” He shrugged.

“Always support local.” Remy said with a grin. 

“Of course she did! We’ve all been a little tense lately, so I’m glad she gave us a space to let loose. Love that girl.” He said, fondly.

[remy-irving]

littlexjoey​:

Joey nodded, she was interested in the man’s story though she knew in their short meeting it wasn’t her place to pry. “She sounds like an interesting woman.” She nodded as she listened. “Well, with everything you have done in here,” she started, glancing around the store. “I believe she’d be honoured to have you restore her things, to preserve them. Though…” She paused. “Are you okay?”

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” She smiled once more. “Me? Uh science. I love science books. History… things with… uh, considered magical.”

Remy shook his head with a tight smile. “No don’t apologize.” He said waving the sentiment away. “I guess her death is just hitting me harder than I expected it too. She’s been old all my life, I should have been prepared for her to go. I guess no one in my family was.” He finished with an exasperated gesture.

“Oh?” He exclaimed, “Then you’re a woman after my own heart, but I’m afraid I don’t display the magical books here, for safety reasons.” He said, happy not to have to tip toe around the subject. “And per coven order, of course. They’re in the back.” He said with a quick nod to a door behind the counter.

[remy-irving]

flissthomas​:

“Can i really say a good one?” She smiled, folding her arms in her defence. She really didn’t want to be set up right now. And she certainly didn’t want to admit her growing feelings for a werewolf. 

“that is not true, you can flirt. You’re just hard on yourself and you have your own merits. So many women would be lucky to have you.”

Remy’s eyebrow shot up and he pouted, but didn’t prod just yet, keeping the information for later. “Well that goes without saying.” He just preened.

He chuckled. “Lucky,” And the word always set him off. “Harumph. Unless my own luck changes-- WHICH I am working on-- all the men and women in the world could want me and I’d still end up alone.” He said dramatically.

[remy-irving]

oh-jazzy​:

She nodded, still looking around the curious store. “Lake beds…” She had been down there a lot. She liked to fish, not an uncommon hobby for the town. “I’m down there quite often… i’m quite the fisherwoman i guess you could say. Is there anything i could do for you?” 

Remy’s eyes widened, almost comically. “If you wouldn’t mind!” And he bolted from her side, making a quick go about getting back up to his loft. From the vantage point of the ground floor it must have sounded like he was dismantling something, but he was just shuffling through an inordinate amount of drawers.

Finally finding the thing he was looking for he went over to the railing overlooking the lobby.

“Catch.” He said, lobbing a small rock down to her. On first glance it was nothing more than a palm sized, smooth, skipping stone of a burnished red tone if seen in the right light, but turning it over the underside was full of holes.

“I know it’s probably a long shot, but if you can keep an eye out for more stones like these. I’d greatly appreciate it.” He said, leaning on the railing with an enigmatic smile.

[remy-irving]

chefdwight​:

“You’ll be glad to know, well maybe you won’t but my Christmas menu is out. Just spreading the news. The Christmas cheer and my business,” the wolf laughed, offering the other a smile.

"You don’t have to sell me on it!” Remy said, “The best thing about being a terrible cook is that I get to just enjoy everyone else’s cooking without all the fuss.” He joked.

“As soon as I’m done with all the leftover’s from Fliss Thanksgiving party, I’ll get started on trying out the new menu.” Remy promised. With his cooking skills being what they were he’d long ago learned to hoard as much food as he could. 

[remy-irving]

agnesxhenson​:

“Oh I am sorry!”, Agnes exclaimed as she saw the stranger struggle with his box. It looked heavy and she had not mean to startle him in any way. She was just growing rather desperately, thoughts and images flashing through her mind. What if someone found the notebook, read it? Found out what she was? 

She shook her head, then raising her hands to show how big her book was. “It’s like this”, Agnes replied, “A little bigger than a normal a5 format” She watched him look for it, glad someone was willing to help her out. “I did not put it down. Not that I can remember. I flipped through the pages on my walk” The vampire shook her head at her own carelessness. Just because the hunter was gone that did not mean that danger had left Crescent Hill all together. She still needed to be careful. That thought alone had been the reason she picked up her book in the first place. It had helped her out of danger before. 

“It might have slipped to the ground when I put it back into my bag. Maybe I missed the bag, lost in thought…” She reached upwards, hands going through her hair, “Gosh I am making such a fuss right now, but I fear I’ll cry" 

Remy nodded at the information, keeping that in mind as he took a further look down the road. “Something that color should stand out.” He reasoned with her, especially as she said she might start to cry.

“Please, don’t cry.” He said, and it was probably more for his own benefit. He never really knew how to comfort people, finding it much easier to deflect serious emotions. “We can retrace your steps.” He said, “Just let me put this stuff away.” While he wanted to help her, his Aunt’s things came first. He still didn’t know what exactly he had on his hands so getting them safely in his shop came first. Luckily he’d almost made it there before she’d stopped him.

"My shop is just here.” He reassured, nodding at the brick building with his head as he carried the box over. “I’ll just put this right inside.” He said, dexterously fishing his keys out of one pocket and holding the cumbersome box with the other. 

[remy-irving]

oh-jazzy​:

Jazz always wished she’d done something like this, but after her father died. It was more important that she stuck around in town. “You’re lucky… you get to see those stories. Maybe ones that only a few people have ever seen.” She glanced at him, laughing as she shook her head. “I think that is more my mom’s thing. I can’t splurge too much on a teacher’s salary.” 

Remy paused at the compliment. He’d always considered himself quite unlucky. It was what fueled him in so many of the things he did, so hearing that on another hand he was lucky... Remy cleared his throat. “I suppose you’re right in that sense.”

Remy nodded. “Of course! It certainly is an expensive hobby to maintain old things. It’s mostly because this town has so much history that I stay in business.” He laughed. 

“I’ve been meaning to go back out to those lake beds and do some more excavating, but I am so out of shape.” He confessed. “I tried hiking the other day and thought I’d busted a lung.”

[remy-irving]

flissthomas​:

“I don’t want anything… yet.” She rubbed her lips together. “Although i’m going to keep it in the bank for the future. Hmmm… if you didn’t know me better you mean. I have always been awful at flirting.” She rested on her hand. “That’s college life for you and we both know you’re a secret freak.” She punched his arm, glad for the cheery discussion. It had been a hard few weeks in Crescent Hill. They needed more people like Remy. 

"I dread the day.” Remy said, but he was all smiles, betraying his words. 

“Oh Fliss, we really do need to work on your game. What kind of friend am I if I can’t even wingman for you!” Remy exclaimed, taking her punch in stride with a devilish smile. 

“A freak who can flirt.” Remy defended himself, sitting up. 

[remy-irving]

littlexjoey​:

Joey’s eyes softened, looking over his face. “Your aunt?” she asked gently, not wanting to ask if the subject was too hard for him. “Wow, a hundred years? That’s wow, amazing. I bet she made a big impact in her long life.” She nodded, noting his tone. Though she wasn’t going to comment on it. “Well, you never know until you look. There may be some gems in those romance novels. But I really am sure she has collection some things in that time.”

“Well, I don’t believe that. There is nothing wrong with being a nerd. There’s a little bit of a nerd in all of us. We all have our things we like and obsess over,” she smiled at him. 

Remy nodded knowing that his mother’s side of the family and their history of magic was an old and sordid affair. He couldn’t disagree even though he felt shut out of that history, looking in as if a voyeur and missing a piece to make certain things make sense.

“You’re very kind to say that about Aunt Kami. You’re right, I just...” He sighed, trying to keep a veneer of indifference up. “Whatever she’s collected, I just hope that I can learn from it and preserve it like I have for a lot of families in this town. It’s the least I can do.” And Remy continued to not sound too happy about it, his resentment getting the better of him.

Remy huffed a sigh, trying to chill out. “I suppose so. What do you obsess over? Does it have anything to do with something in my shop, hm?” He questioned hoping to maybe make a sale out of the girl’s visit, if nothing else.

[remy-irving]

nateharrisonchills​:

Nate nodded, letting the guy examine the pieces. They’d been in his cupboard a long time. A part of his mom he’d kept for almost fifteen years. “No, I’m glad you’re intrigued, I brought them for you to look at.”

“You do? And I will pay, I have no problem whatever you want for it,” he smiled, his eyes wandering around the store for a moment. “No, no, that sounds amazing. Assume away. If you can do that, bring the box back to its former glory too. I am all in,” he nodded. 

“Music is definitely my thing. Always has been. I nerd out over a lot of things really,” he laughed, his eyes watching him. “No? You have no family around for the holidays?”

Remy worked hard to be the first one people called about their old family heirlooms-- more chances to get his hands on interesting artifacts-- but even besides that there was something about people needing his skills like this. He wanted to be wanted, having felt rejection as he had.

“That’s what I like to hear.” Remy smiled, turning to a wall of folders and paperwork. He pulled out a few forms for the young man and chuckled at the his enthusiasm.

“Whatever I want for it! You must really like this girl.” He said sliding them over for the man to fill out and sign. “I’ll endeavor to go above and beyond, no extra cost.” He promised, a little amused with Nate. If the guy wasn’t so agreeable, Remy might have thought his sincerely a little too much.

Remy moved behind the counter taking out containers to pack the pieces safely, but his motions slowed as he put the box away, hand lingering on the old woodwork. “Family? Not around here. Not anymore, not since my Grand Aunt died.” He said shrugging his shoulders and coldly coming to the conclusion. “It is what it is.”

[remy-irving]

agnesxhenson​:

“Excuse me?”, Agnes reached forward to stop the person from passing her by, “I won’t interrupt your day for long. I am looking for a notebook, I must have left it here earlier today”, her eyes scanned the street, the park bench, her entire surroundings. She needed that book, she had to find it again. It was one of her most precious possessions, most of all it held all her secrets. She’d be lost without it. “Have you seen it? It’s with red faux leather” She forced herself to smile, fighting back tears. Her long life had introduced her to all the struggles of mankind, but loosing something so personal felt like an attack on her very soul.

Remy had a big box in his arms-- things he was taking from his Aunt’s house back to the shop for a better look. He knew they were magical, but without any connection to magic himself, they were bound to be nothing more than superstitious paper weights or curiosities.

He hadn’t even seen the young woman, sight obscured by the box so that he jumped, and juggled his hold on it when she stopped him. He put the box gently down, a little alarmed at the woman’s emotions.

“Oh, yeah, of course! It’s okay, it couldn’t have gone far, yeah?” He said, spinning quickly around to think about where a book might easily slip out of sight. “How big is it? Did you just have it? Did you put it down?” Remy asked, taking a look around the nearby trash can and around the nearby flower bushes.