➥ closed for @trvnquils ➥ inkspell
the weight of tortured tragedy could be felt almost like a sickness in the air from the moment ray entered. they breathed deeply, inhale it all - the history that was bound between leather, the magic that was woven into the bones of the shop. rayan could feel it electrifying in the air, enhanced by the bright-eyed keeper at the front of the store. ghosts clung to the corners, secrets screamed for release, and the unsettlement of a mortal soul had always been a beacon for rayan's interest. now was certainly no different. like a moth to the flame, rayan slunk between the shelves with feigned interest in the volumes (which, really, they did usually take a great deal of desire in browsing, just not when something far more interesting was just within reach...) moving closer like an assuming cat lingering by it's prey.
when the distance had all but closed from door to counter, rayan's orange-hued eyes flickered over the attendant, and without even moving their lips, uttered a simple incantation to knock over a stack of short, thin, hardback books from the cart nearest the tender. with a clunk, clash, clatter, they broke the serenity of the shop, filling it instead with sound. && without missing a heartbeat, rayan was there, appearing on a bent knee to gather what they'd knocked over intentionally. as if only just realizing that they'd snuck behind the sales counter, where the regular customer ought not be, the daemon smiled. their senses were ablaze with the magic that radiated off the man they now faced, and a smile that never could quite wipe the sinister nature from it's sweet delivery stretched next across their face. " well, hello hello. " rayan placed the books back to their home on the edge of the cart, but didn't yet remove himself from where he stood just beyond the edge of the counter. the witch's eyes, with all their hidden pain && brilliant beauty, were even more entitizing up close. rayan nearly licked their lips in delight. " you are not who i expected to see manning the helm. don't tell me - they finally fired gertrude? i thought the day would never come. " eyes dropped down, scanning the man, looking for a nametag or something to stand out as an identifier. " i was a regular here, once upon a time. you'll get used to seeing me, i'm sure. rayan, and what a pleasure... "
