Magic Box, Tuesday

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

The mysterious crate was still lurking in the back, but Giles had made a decision to ship it back unopened. Considering what had come out of some of the other unordered crates, it was the safest and most rational decision. Even if part of him hated not knowing what was in it.

So he called and made arrangements for it to be picked up and then set about unpacking and restocking the shelves with things he had ordered.

The Magic Box was open.

Comments

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew snapped his fingers. "Mr. Stiles! How did you end up here?" Andrew was beginning to wonder if anyone was left in Sunnydale.

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"It's Giles," Giles said as mildly as he could manage.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew was pretty sure the man's name was Mr. Stiles but decided to chalk up the differenct to the whole dimensional nexus thing. Looking around the store, he figured this would probably be the best place to get a few of the supplies he didn't bring from home.

"So... Mr. Giles," he really emphasized the G, like whoa, "I was wondering if I could pick up a few things." He consulted the mental list he had just made up, "I need a few black candles with at least a four inch base, non-tapered if you've got 'em, a good incense burner made of iron or some cold metal equivalent, a ceremonial dagger - straight edge is fine, but something cool and curvy or twisted would be so much better, some concentrated yak's blood, and any texts you might have written in ancient Sumerian or Sanskrit." Andrew smiled, "Don't want the translating skills to get rusty while I'm here."

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"No, I don't think so," Giles said, crossing his arms.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew was perplexed. "Oh. Um, I thought this was a store." He looked around at the shelves and the signage. He was pretty sure he saw some candles. "I've got money," he offered.

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"It is a store," Giles confirmed. "But it would be completely irresponsible for me to sell those items to you until I can be sure you know what you're doing and aren't going to get in over your head."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew was further perplexed. "Is there a quiz or something I need to take? Do you, mayhaps, offer a membership card? I mean, I've got most of this stuff back home. I just figured it was best to leave it back in Sunnydale, what with the airport security and all..."

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"This isn't Sunnydale," Giles said. "I tend to want to make sure my customers aren't going to summon something that will kill themeselves or others."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Oh." This made an annoying kind of sense to Andrew. He half wondered if the Turtle and bird store he had heard about might sell what he needed. "Well, I haven't really summoned anything that would be, like, really harmful or bloodthirsty." He paused, "Well, very bloodthirsty." He rubbed a small scar on his forearm.

"Then do you have books on basic summoning techniques? I've learned most of what I know from my brother and the parchments I've been able to swipe from his room when he's out."

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I know all about demon summoning," Giles said, making a quick decision on how to play the situation to get some sort of control over Andrew's activities in this area. "And I know about your brother's hellhounds." He shook his head and put on his best Ripper smirk. "And he? Is an amateur."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew opened his mouth, totally prepared to defend his brother Tucker, and then shut it. After all, the guy heated his incense on a hotplate. "Well I know stuff. Maybe not a lot of stuff, but I'm learning - doing research. There are some pretty good sites out on the world wide web..." He gave Giles a forced grin.

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

Giles snorted. "Fakes and wanna be's."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew looked crestfallen. "Well it's not like they offer Demonology at Sunnydale High," he said defensively. "I thought maybe here at Fandom..." His voice trailed off.

"What do you suggest, sagely one?"

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

Giles made a show of looking at Andrew assessingly. "I suppose we might be able to come to an arrangement," he finally said.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Interested, Andrew warily asked, "What kind of arrangement?"

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"I teach you what real demon summoning is all about and in turn you work for me."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew thought it over for about half a second. "Okay!" He might have hopped a little. "So when do I start? What kind of work are we talking about? Would this be porbono, cause I'm totally cool with that."

[exwatcher.livejournal.com]

"We're talking working in the shop, serving customers, stocking displays, the normal sort of thing," Giles said. "We can discuss schedule when you know when you need to be in class."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Okay. Awesome." Andrew walked up to the nearest shelf and began straightening up items. He turned back to Giles, excited, "So what are we going to summon first?"