Chaucer's - Open Monday

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

Inara sits down behind the desk. There's a hush in town, and it's a little worrying.

To calm herself, she makes a cup of tea and begins writing random calligraphy.

There is a hush in Fandom town.
The quiet portends the madness,
The madness comes before the chaos,
The chaos arrives and people go crazy,
Then everything goes to hell.

...Buddha, I'm bored.

Comments

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Grissom stops by the shop in the mid-afternoon, in theory to say hello to Geoff but really to ask someone he can trust what the whispers in town are regarding the obvious lack of a police force. He's currently double-guessing his reluctance to carry a firearm.

"Hello. Ms. Serra, correct?"

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"Quite correct," she tells him. "It's Mr. Grissom, isn't it? We met briefly at Aziraphale's Christmas party."

Inara indicates the shop. "What can I do for you today?"

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"It is, although the Mr. isn't necessary."

Grissom smiles warmly and looks around the shop. "To be honest, I was stopping by to perhaps get some insight into the mysterious lack of police in town, which I noticed while running some errands. May I ask, have you heard anything about it?"

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

Inara glances outside with a touch of nervousness. "I'm afraid not, Grissom. I noticed it was very quiet when I came in to the shop this morning, but I don't know anything about it. There's something of a hush on the town, though - waiting for the storm?

"Then again," she says with a wry grimace, "I'm not the best person to ask for news around here."

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"I believe you've stumbled upon an appropriate metaphor. In fact, there are studies that indicate that periods of... violence, are preceded by periods of unusual statistical calm. Although in Fandom, the only thing one can expect is the unexpected."

He smiles a little. "And I don't know if I would necessarily enjoy speaking to the best person for news in town. Statistically, it might not be wise for my health and well-being."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

Inara can't help a small laugh at his words. "Do you always recall the statistics so clearly?"

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"With a 96% probability."

"The margin of error being plus or minus 2%."

He grins, but then glances out the window, seemingly hyper-aware of his surroundings today.

"Are you in the shop all be yourself?" he asks with a bit of concern, before realizing how she might take that. "Not that you might not be able to kill me with your bare hands with ease. Considering many of the women I have met in town, it's a strong possibility. But it seems... dangerous, today, to not be prepared for... something."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

Grissom's comment brings her a laugh that sobers when he mentions the town.

"Mr. Chaucer has me mind the store on Mondays and Tuesdays," she explains. "I open up and close down - although business is rather quiet these days.

"And while I can't kill someone with my bare hands, I am trained in self-defence against an attacker," she says, soberly. "In my line of work, you can never be sure where an attack will come from. So, I'm as prepared as I can if things should...degenerate.

"Do you think things will come to that?"

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"No, no, of course not," he says a little too quickly, a thin smile on his face. "This town constantly surprises me, and I mean that in mostly a good way. My background is in law enforcement; I believe I may be too pessimistic by nature when it comes to these type of situations."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"You may," Inara says with a faint smile. "But thank you for the concern. If I run into trouble..." She suspects that if she runs into trouble, Mr. Grissom will not be close enough to help. "Well, there are usually quite a few people in town."

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"Well, if you need anything," he says, scribbling his cell phone number down on a piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Inara. "I can't pretend that I will be able to help you, but Sara, you remember Sara, yes? Let's just say she is an excellent marksman, woman, and leave it at that."

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I remember Sara - and I'll be sure to call if there's anything that becomes concerning." She takes the paper. "Thank you, Grissom. Take care getting back to your residence."

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"I will. Take care, Ms. Serra."

He gives her a polite nod, and exits the store through the front door, heading in the direction of campus.