Magic Box, Wednesday [10/17]

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew opened the store and settled in behind the counter with a notebook and pen. He was trying to come up with a list of movies to bring to the impending 'Film Off' between him and Jeff.

So far all he had written down Harvey the Mallard, crossed it out, and written it down again.

That Magic Box is open for all your charming needs!

Comments

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

There was a shop called the Magic Box. Gabriel had passed it several times, and today decided to have a look inside. He recognised the monkey behind the desk, gave him a strange look, then picked up a crystal ball from a table, throwing it into the air and catching it.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew gave the man a wary eye. Crystal balls were not cheap so he called out a warning: "It's beautiful to look at and lovely to hold, but break it or scratch it and consider it sold."

He had heard that once. Somewhere.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel put hit back on the table and shrugged. "Nice trinket. So this is a magic shop? What to you sell?" He let his eyes wander over the shelves around the wall, reaching out to pick up a jar of something that looked like dried frog's eyes.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you know," Andrew said, "magic stuff. Was there something in particular I could help you find?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Magic stuff," Gabriel repeated thoughtfully. "You mean stuff that's used for spells?" He picked up another jar and examined it, then put it down and walked up to the desk, leaning his hands on it.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, stuff for spells, protective charms, novelty items, books... All kinds of fun stuff!" Andrew loved this place. "Are you, um, interested in magic?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"I have watched witches burn at the stake," Gabriel replied cooly, a strange smile on his lips. "Do you know what burning flesh smells like?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Oh, sure," Andrew replied. "It's a pretty basic requirement in a lot of demon summoning rituals. In fact," he added, "we have an incense kit here that comes with a couple of sticks that mimic the smell of burnt flesh pretty closely."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Nifty." Gabriel looked unimpressed. "What do you need the demons for anyway."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew never really understood this question. "Well, why wouldn't you want them?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"They're useless. Just snap them in half." He waved a hand in the air. "Besides, you know where you'll end up, with or without the burning. And believe me, burning isn't a nice way to go, especially not if they make the pyre out of good wood. Not enough smoke to make you suffocate before the flames reach you."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Oooookay," Andrew said. "That lovely image aside, can I interest you in some scented candles? They're on sale! Buy any candle at regular price and you can get a slug scented candle at half price."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel thought for a moment. He'd just used up all his candles. "It won't save you from eternal damnation," he said. "But I'm kind of short of money right now."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Are you saying I'm destined to be eternally damned?" Andrew asked?

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Dealing with magic and demons, yes." Gabriel shrugged. "The Scripture is quite clear on the subject." Well, reasonably, but dealing with demons was just stupid anyway.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew snorted and grinned. "Yes, well, the Scripture is clear on all sorts of subjects isn't it. I'm sure if I wasn't going to Hell for playing around with magic and demons, I would find myself there for eating shrimp or for knitting on the sabbath or sleeping with other boys --"

He clammed up and promptly turned red.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel looked like he really didn't want to know. "Some sins are worse than others," he replied, then he added: "You knit?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew frowned and said, "I'm pretty sure all sins are equal in the eyes of God. Unless the Bible has changed since the last time I read it." Which had been the previous summer. He found it to be a pretty useful reference to know when dealing with certain demons who got all caught up in the religious mombo jumbo.

"I tried, but my scarf came out way larger on one end than the other, so I gave up."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"No, no, you got it wrong. The English translation is kinda dodgy. Can I have it?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew grinned again. He had read it all in it's original written languages, of course: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek respectively. He had also read it Klingon, but he was sure this guy wouldn't care about any of that.

Still, he decided to continue the conversation in Aramaic just for kicks, saying, "No, it was a gift for my older brother. I am fairly certain he threw it away."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel blinked, surprised. He didn't like it when monkeys surprised him. "Still, demons are useless and lazy," he said, replying in the same language.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Elated at being able to carry on a conversation in Aramaic, Andrew continued on, saying, "I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I can think of several demons who have done really useful things - saving lives and such. They're not all evil, you know, like maybe one or two percent of them."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Didn't say they were evil, I said useless and lazy. And prone to ideas of grandeur." Gabriel saw no reason to change back to English either. "Besides, you know what they call you humans behind your back? Baby turnips."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"You just made that up," Andrew accused.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Why would I make that up?" Gabriel sounded insulted.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Because you're bored," he replied. I mean, that's why he tended to make stuff up.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Actually, that was kind of true. "Why would I be bored?" Gabriel snapped.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Well you're obviously not here for the awesome shopping," he stated. "And you seem kinda bored."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"I do?" Gabriel asked coolly.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I mean, this could just be your general demeanor. It's not like I've had a chance to get you know you or anything." Andrew wondered if he should be insulted.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that's right, it could," Gabriel snapped. "Can I have a freebie candle?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew looked at the candle display and thought about it. "No," he replied.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Not even if I teach you a few of those really nasty Aramaic swerawords that never got printed in the books?"

[And woe, bedtime for me!]

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew grabbed a candle and sat, tossed it in a bag, and handed it to the man. "Okay."

He made a mental note to pay for the candle after the man had left.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel spoke a series of quite impressive curses that were definitely not fit to print, or neatly write in a manuscript. He took the bag and looked oddly pleased.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew grinned and quickly wrote down the new words in his notebook, bouncing as he did so.

"Thanks!" he said.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel had never thought that phrases in dead languages should be valuable, but he wasn't one to complain. "You're welcome," he replied, looking amused, and headed out of the shop.

[sizzler-sisters.livejournal.com]

In the street outside the Magic Box, there were two men wearing fur coats and merrily rowing a canoe.

"Je te plumerai la bouche ..."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew went to the door and stared at the site. Plus, plucking someone in the mouth? Not very nice. Though it sounded real cool in French.