CLOSED ☆

[angelskills]

WHO: Colette Brunel (angelskills) and Banagher Links (argents).
WHAT: Banagher offered to help Colette organize the books in the tea parlor!
WHEN: 5-12-13, Sunday evening, 7:30ish!
WHERE: Colette's tea parlor.
WHY: Because adorable.



[ It's getting close to 7:30 now. Today, as most Sundays tended to be, was slow, but she didn't mind. The weather was getting so nice that it was hard to not be positive about things! Warm breezes and cooling spring showers, flowers beginning to grow and curl their green fingers out toward the sky. Even the sun was setting later, not wanting to say goodbye to such a lovely day.

And on top of all that, today was the day that Banagher (Bannie) was going to come and help her reorganize the books that lined the shelves in the shop. They desperately needed it - she did her best, but it was hard to keep on top of everything when you worked by yourself for six hours. Customers needed attending and cleaning needed to be done - the books were more often than not put on the back burner. Tonight they'd finally get the attention they so justly deserved with them having been so patiently waiting.

That... and, well, the prospect of seeing Banagher (Bannie) itself was enough to make a genuine smile stick on her face for the whole six hour shift.

The shop was all but deserted now, with empty cups and dirty napkins littering a couple of tables, left by college students getting some work done in the quiet. Finals were right around the corner for everyone. She sings softly to herself as she wipes a few tables down with a cloth, a sweet voice, keeping well and true to the proper notes. Singing and cleaning, a great way to pass the time and get things done in a timely manner. The china clinks as she picks up dirty teacups and pots as she goes, pocketing the occasional tip left on a table or tucked in a stray book. ]

Comments

[angelskills]

You're welcome! I'm glad you like it.

[ She sits up in the chair, suddenly very serious. ]

Grannie always says that games aren't worth anything if something isn't on the line! So, do you want to make a bet?

[ Not that this is what Grannie had in mind but it could be fun! High-stakes book cleaning! Besides, they won't actually start until he finishes eating, because that would be unfair. ]

[argents]

[ Before she's even completed the offer, his eyes are brightening in response. ]

I see now, I knew you liked to live on the edge.

[ Banagher teases with a tiny grin. ]

Let's see, something good to bet... it's not exactly like having to bet my other friends. They'd probably make me skip to school, or jump in the ocean in December, or something.

[ He's pretty confident, but he doesn't want to just make any bet! ]

[angelskills]

[ She laughs, pressing her hands to her cheeks a little as they brighten. Living on the edge, huh? ]

I won't make you do something like that! You'd probably get sick if you did that, right?

[ Though she wouldn't mind nursing him back to health in that instance... but no! No, she knows what she wants, and this is the perfect chance to get it. ]

If I win...

[ She pauses, for the dramatics -- ]

... I get to brush your hair!

[ She's so ~devious~ ]

[argents]

I don't know, I'm pretty tough!

[ He just looks like a puffball, that's all. A puffball who is instantly at a loss with her wager. ]

Brush my hair...?

[ THAT'S IF HE LOSES? He presses a laugh back. ]

Deal! And if I win, hmm. You have to let me walk you home for a week.

[angelskills]

All right! It's a bet, then.

[ She pats her hands on her lap, as though that makes it official. Though isn't he going out of his way to walk her home for a week? It seems troublesome to him... but she's not one to pick at why someone wants to make a bet! ]

Heheh, this is going to be fun!

[argents]

[ En guarde, miss. ]

Want to shake on it? Make it official!

[ When he extends his free hand, he thinks a shake might be a little too official... so he simply offers a pinkie finger instead. ]

But I won't go easy on you.

[ What he wants is as stake here too. ]

[angelskills]

Oh! I guess shaking on it does make it more official.

[ She shares her pinky as well -- though this seems to be more of a pinky promise than a handshake. Oh well! This is better, she thinks. Handshakes make her think of old men in business suits. ]

Me neither! I mean, I won't be going easy on you, either.

[ Shaking pinkies is go! ]

[argents]

[ Done! ]

Of course, it's no fun if it's too one-sided!

[ Though honestly he thinks this is a win-win in either instance, if he was being honest with himself. Banagher hurries to polish off the rest of the sandwich, craning to look at the shelves behind him. ]

Which section are you going to pick? We got most of the way through mystery, and... [ Factoring in the stacks of rogue books on the table — five fantasy, two romance, three nonfiction, a children's book — looks like fantasy wins for the most traffic. ]

[angelskills]

We should pick sections that are the same size! Or around the same size. That way, it'll be more fair.

[ She stands so she can try to guess which sections are about the same in size. Fantasy is the biggest section out of them all, she thinks, and mystery is already pretty much done... there's romance and nonfiction, those are probably about the same. The children's section is pretty small, that could be done really fast. And then there's reference which is probably about the size of the children's section... ]

I think romance and nonfiction may work the best. Which one would you like to do?

[argents]

Looks like no matter what we pick the covers are all going to look the same.

[ Even footing to the max, it was either all smoldering dudes and women in corsets or smiling, deadeyed middle-aged PhDs in business suits. He knows how this works. Finishing up his food, he brushes the crumbs onto the plate mindfully and doesn't answer with his mouth full. ]

Nonfiction!

[angelskills]

Okay! Then I'll take romance.

[ Some of those guys on the covers are really cute, anyway! Even if their clothes are hanging off of them (ah, who is she kidding, that kind of makes it better). She won't say as much though. Girls gotta have their little secrets. ]

We don't need a judge for this kind of game, do we?

[argents]

[ He snorts softly at her reaction. Some things boys just don't admit to, either. ]

No, I don't think we do. But maybe a timer? Or like a stopwatch, since we're racing!

[ Swiveling around, he kneels and motions for Haro. ]

Haro, wanna be our ref?

[ Despite their tendency to quip, Haro rolls right over. ]

[angelskills]

Oh, that's a good idea! And this way Haro can be involved too.

[ Yes, perfect, everything was coming together flawlessly! ]

We can start once you're ready.

[argents]

[ Banagher flips a little compartment up on the robot to reveal a keypad. Hitting a few buttons, Haro rings once, a neat set of 00:00:00 appearing on the tiny screen above the keys. Like an alarm clock with a personality! ]

There, that ought to do it.

[ Setting him down on the table, Banagher smiles. ]

Not until my mark, okay?

[ Flapping, Haro intones: Roger! Roger! On your mark! With that, he steps around to the mystery section they'd finished. ]

Before we start — [ Banagher picks up the stool he'd been using and brings it over to her. ] — here you go! I think this is a lot safer to use than a chair.

[angelskills]

[ Oh wow he can even do stuff like that, too?! He keeps getting more and more handy. She can't help to briefly wonder why Haro was... well, made. A talking little robot that seemed to have its own thoughts. Why had Bannie been smacked in the head with him? Hmm...

... Well, she's being silly, thinking about it. There's a race to start! ]

Oh -- what will you use, then? I really don't mind the chair.

[argents]

I don't think I'll need to use anything! [ He does have a sliiiight height advantage already, so think of it like a teensy tiny bit of modern-day chivalry okay. ] I can reach the shelves okay if I'm working fast.

Besides, I'd feel really horrible if you fell off a chair since they're not exactly made for standing on...

[angelskills]

Well... if you're sure...

If you need to use it just take it, okay? Sharing it might be a little difficult but it's better than you getting hurt or something. Okay?

[ Boy you better take the stool if you need it ]

[argents]

[ HE'S FALLEN OFF PLENTY OF LADDERS HE'S GOT THIS ]

I'm sure, yeah! [ And he's setting it down right here to prove it. ] If I end up needing it after all, we'll have a fair rematch. Sound good?

[angelskills]

Heheh, okay! That sounds fair to me.

[ She moves over to the romance section to observe it. It's... pretty messy, oops. So these are what all those Grannies read when they stop in here... ]

Oh! Did you want anything to drink? Water, tea? Anything?

[argents]

Thanks, but I think I'm okay right now. Maybe when we're done I can try another tea? One out of that big long list is a pretty slow start. If you have any suggestions though...

[ Well, something to look forward to!

Likewise he makes his way around tables to face down the nonfiction section. The spines all looked the exact same, on a quick overlook. ]

[angelskills]

Okay. I'll think on it while I'm working, and when we're done we can both have a cup.

[ Should she stretch? She almost feels like she should be stretching, like they do before a race or a battle! ]

[argents]

[ He shoots a half-smile over his shoulder. ]

Like a victory toast!

[ Honestly it doesn't even matter who's winning here. But okay. Plan of attack! Focus! ]

Are you ready?

[angelskills]

I'm ready!

[ She stands in front of her section, fists pumping a little. ]

I was born ready!

[ THE FIRE OF YOUTH!! ]

[argents]

[ Look at that, he's going to have to keep on his toes to contend with such BURNING YOUTHFUL VIGOR. Banagher can't help but laugh. ]

Born ready. Looks like I might be in trouble then. But okay, on three!

[ Readying himself, he starts the countdown off. You don't mess with tradition! ]

Three, two...

[ And... ]

One!

[ Haro flaps, intoning: Go! Go!

First up is that pesky sci-fi novel nestled on the second shelf, don't think he didn't see you hiding there. ]

[angelskills]

[ It's on!! ... Where should she start? Um. She frets around the books before settling on just starting at the top and working her way down. That way she'll get everything and it should go pretty fast, right? She hops on the stool and begins to fix the books starting with the top shelf, pulling out a few things that don't belong in the romance section. Why would aliens be in the romance section...?

But she's going, she's going! Intense book cleaning! ]