From a path known to only the most roguish of individuals, two hooded figures climbed their way over the small boundary wall and shuffled through the park to better cover a short distance away. It was dusk in Stormwind city, the sounds of the Alliance capital were starting to wind down.
The first figure removed her hood, stretching out the fabric to get around slender long Ren’dori ears. Short hair colored in a dull cerulean framed a face of soft lilac, her starlight eyes looked hesitantly toward the Main Street.
“There really is no need for such theatrics Vivian. Your bounty was cleared with the unfortunate demise of the Ranger-Captain.”
“I-I am merely looking out for your safety, my Lady.”
“Indeed.” The utter boredom and the disappointment that came with it was certain as the grave.
“The shop you seek is up the stairs and down the causeway. Take a left at the end of the tunnel and follow the wall until you see the shop. The woman you are looking for is named Laurel. If anything happens we-“
“Don’t wait for me.” With that, the hooded woman took off, following the directions given.
((Description of SW and shop face here bc I’m lazy!))
Finding the shop open, she removed her gloves and casually stepped inside.
The scent of freshly-brewed coffee assaulted the woman's nose as she crossed the threshold into the book shop. The shop was two stories high, with a staircase that led up to the mezzanine level. Every wall was covered with bookshelves, and each shelf was filled with books and scrolls. Some of the shelves held small signs indicating the general type of books available on the shelves, which were then arranged in rough alphabetical order by the name of the author. The ground floor also held a small coffee service with a selection of clean porcelain mugs, with a small ewer of cold cream. Small supplies of sugar and honey, cinnamon and chocolate syrup were also available. One mug was filled with small stirring spoons. There were several stuffed leather chairs with side tables. Several rugs covered the floor.
"Welcome to Nighttime Reading. How may I help you to satisfy your desires... for literature?" purred the human. Raven-haired and dressed in soft Magewave robes, her green eyes blazed like emeralds. She wore no jewelry, and if she wore a scent it was drowned in the redolence of the coffee. What might I tempt you with? Some coffee? Tales of romance and desire? Kaldorei poetry? Or worse, Dwarven poetry?"
The woman chuckled, removing slender black gloves. Her hands were pale, almost stark white in the light, and bone thin. They moved with the surety of knowledge and the grace of a spider, tucking this and that as they removed their layers. “Coffee is indeed tempting, but I must pass. I would very much like to hear more about your selection.”
"Please, make yourself comfortable, Miss...? My store specializes in literature, especially steamy romances. I have a small selection of just about everything else - poetry, history, language primers, arcane theory... nothing that is written is out of scope for me. Additionally, I have a wide network of sellers of work of a more... specialized nature, and can put them in touch with prospective clients."
The woman did as she was instructed, settling herself down on the cushions of a couch. "You can call me Ilene."
"Excellent, Ilene. How may I make your visit here satisfying?" said the bookstore owner. "My name is Laurel Nox, and I am at your service."
"An honor to meet you, Miss Nox. I'm looking for some reading material on behalf of my sister. I was told that this was the place to go and... well it's good to see your reputation wasn't unfounded." Ilene removed her hood and smiled politely up at her host, which notedly did not go to her steel-gray eyes. Deep purple hair that hung would just past her shoulder blades was tied up in a bun, contrasting remarkably with her alabaster skin that was clearly well maintained with a variety of creams and ointments; Laurel could smell the heady but not entirely unpleasant mixing of the aromas. Well-manicured, but thin hands played with the fabric of her robe.
"Of course. May I ask what kind of literature your sister has enjoyed previously?" Laurel had an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre popularly known as "Steamy Romances", and stocked an almost complete collection, the notable exception being "Blue Moon", which had unfortunately been published just when Praline of the Scarlet Crusade had enjoyed a brief popularity preaching of the sin of miscegenation, of the mating of different races. The Scarlet Crusader had led several book-burning parties featuring the book as its central fuel.
She chuckled airily, ”Well you see, that’s where I run into trouble. My sister has... we have not spoken in...many years. She’s recently returned from serving Alliance interests but... she’s not as she was. She contracted some...virus? Fungal infection? I don’t quite know what to make of it. It’s eating at her body and mind, left her comatose. I was told by the priests that reading to her might help her keep strength but- well the last book I remember my sister reading was folk tales for children. I couldn’t read that to her, that’d be ridiculous wouldn’t it?”
"Well, that is a question... if she is not conscious, then perhaps the mere engagement of the mind while unconscious is the causation of the possible assistance," Laurel said. "If that is the case, then the subject of the book does not truly matter, and so the reader might just as easily please themselves?"
"I suppose an argument could be made for such a scenario, but I don't want her to come back to me five months later chewing my ear off because instead of encouraging her to return to us, she came back only so she could berate me to death!- If...she recovers, of course."
"But if the price of her recovery is berating your literary taste, wouldn't that be worth it? Of course, there are some... non-standard medical practices that might also help. Like Sa'Diablo..."
At this, Ilene’s eyebrows visibly raised, ”Sa’Diablo? I have never heard of this...What is it?”
"I am told that Sa'Diablo is a drug with both euphoric and healing properties... quite illegal, but also quite effective"
She mulled over the words for some time, scrunching her brow at ‘illegal’, but refocused her gaze not long after. “Healing properties you say? How effective is it at healing? This rot as moved so fast, not even the Light has been able to keep up- Can it- can it heal faster than the Light?”
"I do not know, first-hand. I hear that it is Fel-based alchemy though, so perhaps it might be efficacious where the Light has failed...?"
“Fel-based...? Hm. Interesting.” She narrowed her eyes at Laurel, ”Why would you tell me this?”
"No reason, I just thought it might be relevant to your problem at hand..." Laurel said with a disarming smile.
Ilene frowned slightly, lowering her head and redoubling the efforts to pull at a loose string on her robe. She muttered to herself, before making out. “Show me to your selection of mystery novels, if you have any.”
"Of course!" Laurel turns and slowly walks to the bookshelves containing suspense, murder mystery, and adventure novels. "Please, let me know how else I might help!" Laurel grinned and left Ilene alone with her thoughts.
"Of course!" Laurel turned and slowly walked to the bookshelves where the shelves contained suspense, murder mystery, and adventure novels. "Please, let me know how else I might help!" Laurel grinned and left Ilene alone with her thoughts.
At some point, Ilene came out of hiding, carrying two books that judging by how haphazardly she handed them to her for purchase, she held no real interest. There was a determination that wasn't there beforehand.
"I think- yes I think these will do fine," she glanced around before continuing,"...and tell me, have you heard anything more about this Sa’Diablo?"
"Well, there was a fellow arrested for selling it in the Pig And Whistle tavern... and sometimes I suspect that Jarel Moor, the bartender at the Slaughtered Lamb, might have connections in that regard. There is much more t the Slaughtered Lamb than meets the eye, and it is rumored to be a meeting place for those with aspirations or connections to the Fel magics. I know I often drink there, and find the crowd... congenial." Laurel gestured to her front door. "My poor succubus has been harassed much less since the fall of the Burning Legion. These days, it's only the Scarlet fanatics or the tattooed space goats that hold any real disfavor for warlocks, even those who fought the Burning Legion with their own demons."
"I...I see." Ilene looked to the door, biting her lip before passing the necessary currency for the books. She wrung her hands, watching Laurel with intense eyes.
"Was there something else with which I might offer assistance, Ilene?" Laurel said with a smile, wrapping the books in plain brown paper and twine.
Ilene shook her head, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, despite how genuine her voice seemed."No, I think you have been plenty helpful to me, Ms. Nox. For once, I have some hope for my pla- my sister. Now, I think it is a lovely fall evening, and I plan to go have a drink."
"May the Darkness embrace you, Ilene" offered the Warlock in farewell. She would have bet a pouch of silver that Ilene's drink would happen in the Slaughtered Lamb. "Hopefully Moor will be able to find out more," she thought to herself. watching the customer walk away.
"And the Shadows give you clemency." Ilene bowed her head, and quickly made her way out and into the night air.
The first figure removed her hood, stretching out the fabric to get around slender long Ren’dori ears. Short hair colored in a dull cerulean framed a face of soft lilac, her starlight eyes looked hesitantly toward the Main Street.
“There really is no need for such theatrics Vivian. Your bounty was cleared with the unfortunate demise of the Ranger-Captain.”
“I-I am merely looking out for your safety, my Lady.”
“Indeed.” The utter boredom and the disappointment that came with it was certain as the grave.
“The shop you seek is up the stairs and down the causeway. Take a left at the end of the tunnel and follow the wall until you see the shop. The woman you are looking for is named Laurel. If anything happens we-“
“Don’t wait for me.” With that, the hooded woman took off, following the directions given.
((Description of SW and shop face here bc I’m lazy!))
Finding the shop open, she removed her gloves and casually stepped inside.
The scent of freshly-brewed coffee assaulted the woman's nose as she crossed the threshold into the book shop. The shop was two stories high, with a staircase that led up to the mezzanine level. Every wall was covered with bookshelves, and each shelf was filled with books and scrolls. Some of the shelves held small signs indicating the general type of books available on the shelves, which were then arranged in rough alphabetical order by the name of the author. The ground floor also held a small coffee service with a selection of clean porcelain mugs, with a small ewer of cold cream. Small supplies of sugar and honey, cinnamon and chocolate syrup were also available. One mug was filled with small stirring spoons. There were several stuffed leather chairs with side tables. Several rugs covered the floor.
"Welcome to Nighttime Reading. How may I help you to satisfy your desires... for literature?" purred the human. Raven-haired and dressed in soft Magewave robes, her green eyes blazed like emeralds. She wore no jewelry, and if she wore a scent it was drowned in the redolence of the coffee. What might I tempt you with? Some coffee? Tales of romance and desire? Kaldorei poetry? Or worse, Dwarven poetry?"
The woman chuckled, removing slender black gloves. Her hands were pale, almost stark white in the light, and bone thin. They moved with the surety of knowledge and the grace of a spider, tucking this and that as they removed their layers. “Coffee is indeed tempting, but I must pass. I would very much like to hear more about your selection.”
"Please, make yourself comfortable, Miss...? My store specializes in literature, especially steamy romances. I have a small selection of just about everything else - poetry, history, language primers, arcane theory... nothing that is written is out of scope for me. Additionally, I have a wide network of sellers of work of a more... specialized nature, and can put them in touch with prospective clients."
The woman did as she was instructed, settling herself down on the cushions of a couch. "You can call me Ilene."
"Excellent, Ilene. How may I make your visit here satisfying?" said the bookstore owner. "My name is Laurel Nox, and I am at your service."
"An honor to meet you, Miss Nox. I'm looking for some reading material on behalf of my sister. I was told that this was the place to go and... well it's good to see your reputation wasn't unfounded." Ilene removed her hood and smiled politely up at her host, which notedly did not go to her steel-gray eyes. Deep purple hair that hung would just past her shoulder blades was tied up in a bun, contrasting remarkably with her alabaster skin that was clearly well maintained with a variety of creams and ointments; Laurel could smell the heady but not entirely unpleasant mixing of the aromas. Well-manicured, but thin hands played with the fabric of her robe.
"Of course. May I ask what kind of literature your sister has enjoyed previously?" Laurel had an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre popularly known as "Steamy Romances", and stocked an almost complete collection, the notable exception being "Blue Moon", which had unfortunately been published just when Praline of the Scarlet Crusade had enjoyed a brief popularity preaching of the sin of miscegenation, of the mating of different races. The Scarlet Crusader had led several book-burning parties featuring the book as its central fuel.
She chuckled airily, ”Well you see, that’s where I run into trouble. My sister has... we have not spoken in...many years. She’s recently returned from serving Alliance interests but... she’s not as she was. She contracted some...virus? Fungal infection? I don’t quite know what to make of it. It’s eating at her body and mind, left her comatose. I was told by the priests that reading to her might help her keep strength but- well the last book I remember my sister reading was folk tales for children. I couldn’t read that to her, that’d be ridiculous wouldn’t it?”
"Well, that is a question... if she is not conscious, then perhaps the mere engagement of the mind while unconscious is the causation of the possible assistance," Laurel said. "If that is the case, then the subject of the book does not truly matter, and so the reader might just as easily please themselves?"
"I suppose an argument could be made for such a scenario, but I don't want her to come back to me five months later chewing my ear off because instead of encouraging her to return to us, she came back only so she could berate me to death!- If...she recovers, of course."
"But if the price of her recovery is berating your literary taste, wouldn't that be worth it? Of course, there are some... non-standard medical practices that might also help. Like Sa'Diablo..."
At this, Ilene’s eyebrows visibly raised, ”Sa’Diablo? I have never heard of this...What is it?”
"I am told that Sa'Diablo is a drug with both euphoric and healing properties... quite illegal, but also quite effective"
She mulled over the words for some time, scrunching her brow at ‘illegal’, but refocused her gaze not long after. “Healing properties you say? How effective is it at healing? This rot as moved so fast, not even the Light has been able to keep up- Can it- can it heal faster than the Light?”
"I do not know, first-hand. I hear that it is Fel-based alchemy though, so perhaps it might be efficacious where the Light has failed...?"
“Fel-based...? Hm. Interesting.” She narrowed her eyes at Laurel, ”Why would you tell me this?”
"No reason, I just thought it might be relevant to your problem at hand..." Laurel said with a disarming smile.
Ilene frowned slightly, lowering her head and redoubling the efforts to pull at a loose string on her robe. She muttered to herself, before making out. “Show me to your selection of mystery novels, if you have any.”
"Of course!" Laurel turns and slowly walks to the bookshelves containing suspense, murder mystery, and adventure novels. "Please, let me know how else I might help!" Laurel grinned and left Ilene alone with her thoughts.
At some point, Ilene came out of hiding, carrying two books that judging by how haphazardly she handed them to her for purchase, she held no real interest. There was a determination that wasn't there beforehand.
"I think- yes I think these will do fine," she glanced around before continuing,"...and tell me, have you heard anything more about this Sa’Diablo?"
"Well, there was a fellow arrested for selling it in the Pig And Whistle tavern... and sometimes I suspect that Jarel Moor, the bartender at the Slaughtered Lamb, might have connections in that regard. There is much more t the Slaughtered Lamb than meets the eye, and it is rumored to be a meeting place for those with aspirations or connections to the Fel magics. I know I often drink there, and find the crowd... congenial." Laurel gestured to her front door. "My poor succubus has been harassed much less since the fall of the Burning Legion. These days, it's only the Scarlet fanatics or the tattooed space goats that hold any real disfavor for warlocks, even those who fought the Burning Legion with their own demons."
"I...I see." Ilene looked to the door, biting her lip before passing the necessary currency for the books. She wrung her hands, watching Laurel with intense eyes.
"Was there something else with which I might offer assistance, Ilene?" Laurel said with a smile, wrapping the books in plain brown paper and twine.
Ilene shook her head, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, despite how genuine her voice seemed."No, I think you have been plenty helpful to me, Ms. Nox. For once, I have some hope for my pla- my sister. Now, I think it is a lovely fall evening, and I plan to go have a drink."
"May the Darkness embrace you, Ilene" offered the Warlock in farewell. She would have bet a pouch of silver that Ilene's drink would happen in the Slaughtered Lamb. "Hopefully Moor will be able to find out more," she thought to herself. watching the customer walk away.
"And the Shadows give you clemency." Ilene bowed her head, and quickly made her way out and into the night air.
