Wednesday, 1st February, 1943, Delilah Harper-Windgrace, Odette di Benedetti, Thirteen
[10:04] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: Delilah was just exiting the arched pathway that lead to Windgrace Manor, about to turn left to head down towards the street the bookstore stood when her keen eyes spotted a familiar all white form, Odette, and she diverted her path to intercept. Once she was within a polite distance so as to not be raising her voice, she offered the woman a bright smile. "Ah, Ms. Odette. Ah wis pleased ta get yer response letter." She paused, letting her eyes drift over her form before adding, "Ye look fantastic."
[10:12] Odette di Benedetti found it to be a lovely day, and that was all the more reason to cover as much of her skin as she could. Her tasteful trousers and blouse felt like the perfect attire for a day in a bookstore with Lilah.
She'd just rounded the corner at the bakery, parasol in hand, when she spotted the familiar figure of Ms. Harper-Windgrace, and a genuinely warm smile tugged at the corners of her bow-shaped lips.
When the other called out the greeting, the smile deepened and she'd add her own in return.
"Oh, please...call me Odette. Or, even O, if you are so inclined. And I will happily say the same about your letter. I did not realize that we even had a bookstore...which is silly, I suppose. I still have not even made it to...hmmm, what is that place. I'm supposed to acquire a device.", she'd blurt, finally pausing to waved a hand dismissively before continuing,
"I do apologize. My tea was stronger than normal this morning. Thank you for the compliment, which I will return in kind. It's nice to see you again, Lilah.", her
[10:12] Odette di Benedetti warmed honey voice intoned quietly as her steps led her to stand before the other.
[10:31] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: Lilah smiled with genuine happiness at the greeting she received as she approached Odette, offering the other woman a small nod, "Aye, O it is. Ah'll remember that." Moving to fall in step with Odette, she added, "Well, it's somethin' of a complicated story, ta be frank. When ye arrived on the island, we actually dinnae have a proper bookstore. Or, more ta the point, we had one that had recently closed due ta a murder of all things. Ah s'pose the former owner just read Crime and Punishment one tae many times, he's up at the asylum now. It's only just reopened under a new owner." As they walked, the morning sunlight glinted off her glasses as she glanced sideways, chuckling softly at Odette's flurry of words, "Och, dinnae apologize. Sometimes, ye need yer tea strong in the mornin'. And then, there are the mornin's where ye need somethin' even stronger." Grinning, she winked.
[10:40] Odette di Benedetti found the chatter very easy and compatible with Lilah, and as she spoke about the bookstore's previous incarnation, Odette peered sidelong at the other woman, her eyes widening in surprise at this information.
"A murder, you say. How scandalous! And the previous owner is in asylum, you say! Goodness. I suppose we all possess the potential to snap.", this last said a bit more quietly, ponderously.
At Lilah's commentary of something stronger, she'd chuckle, her pale head dipping in a small nod.
"Oh, indeed. Indeed.". Odette normally kept her silver locks twisted up on her head during the day in a chignon of one sort or another, but as she'd just washed her hair the day before, it was an obvious moment to leave the long waves loose, and the nod sent her tresses shifting about her head and shoulders.
"Tell me...what was the last book you read that made an impact?", she'd ask as they neared the door to the book shoppe. Odette could smell the fragrance of leather and paper and clean the closer they got.
[11:07] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: Lilah nodded at the woman's mention of people's potential to snap. Where Odette lowered her voice, Delilah made no such effort, speaking in an equally conversational tone as she said, "Aye, anyone has the potential ta snap...some just seem ta be more inclined than others. It's no' necessarily a matter of snappin, thou. Woud ye be scandalized if Ah were ta say Ah dae believe some fowk are better off no' bein' in this world, and if that means someone needs ta take that in hand, sae be it." Lilah's brow furrowed some as she finished this thought, just as they came to the stairs of the bookstore. "Fergive me, O, that's no' the most pleasant thought ta start oor adventure. Instead, Ah'll just answer yer question an' move on...Ah recently had one of oor ships bring in an original German copy of Berlin Alexanderplatz by Döblin. Coincedentally, that story also involves a murderer." Turning towards Odette at the base of the stairs, she offered a bemused half-smirk. "Daena ye love that distinct aroma only
[11:07] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: bookstore seem ta have?"
[11:15] Odette di Benedetti paused at the foot of the stairs, turning just enough to peer at Lilah as she stated, conversationally, her beliefs on some beings needing to be dispatched.
This was, indeed, a not-uncommon thought for many people in this day-and-age, especially as more people flaunted their obvious....differences from the general populace.
"I would not be scandalized, no. And while I can agree to much of this being true, I ask you a question: Who gets to be the judge of that, and by what decree?".
Odette blinked at the other woman a bit owlishly, those dark eyes behind darker lenses wide with curiosity to Delilah's answer.
A small smirk touched her lips as she climbed the stairs to breach the door of the shoppe, where the diminutive woman would, once again, turn enough to peer at her companion with a wide grin,
"Oh, sometimes more than anything else...it's like...home.".
Meandering inside, Odette snapped her brolly closed with a flick of the wrist and tucked it under her arm. Spying the cat, the small pert nose would
[11:15] Odette di Benedetti wrinkle the tiniest bit- whether in delight or dismay would remain to be seen.
[11:43] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: Lilah pursed her lips, bit back an off the cuff comment of 'Ah am, if they piss me off'. Instead, her head canted to ths side some as she considered Odette's question more properly, her eyes focused on Odette's behind their respective glasses. Her blue-grey eyes might glimmer golden for a brief moment. Finally, she offered a disarming smile and settled on, "Ye bring up a good point. Ah s'pose it's a good thing Ah work in shippin' an dinnae have ta be that judge, aye? Tae much responsibility..." Following the woman into the shop, she replied to O's other statement, "Home...that's a good way of puttin' it. Ah've travelled much in ma life, and Ah'm sure Ah've spent more time in book depositories than anywhere else." As she crossed the threshold, she briefly closed her eyes, letting the scents waft over her. Paper, ink, leather...and cat. Her eyes popped open again at the sound of low hissing, falling on the white long-haired feline who looked up at her with obvious dislike, it's hair standing on end. Raising
[11:43] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: an eyebrow at the cat, she took one step forward, the cat bolted, running behind a nearby curtain. Glancing at Odette, she smirked, "More of a dog person, Ah s'pose..."
[12:06] Odette di Benedetti 's eyes flickered, something barely hidden behind them at Lilah's response. When her companion recanted a bit, Odette's lips curved upward, and the relief would wash through her, hopefully undetected.
The diminutive woman's shoulders dropped as she inhaled the fragrances, a small shiver of delight slithered under her skin, and she'd take another few steps into the shoppe.
Depositing her brolly beside one of the chairs, Odette slid the glasses from her face and tucked them into her bag before it joined the umbrella.
With that, she'd turn in a small circle, fathomless black eyes skimming the shelves as her mouth pulled into a small moue of appreciation before landing on the cat to watch its hasty exit behind the curtain.
This would, oddly, elicit a small chuckle from the petite pale woman, and her gaze slid to Delilah's face as she intoned,
"You and I both."
After a heartbeat or two, she'd say,
"Berlin Alexanderplatz. I've not read that one. I tend to lean toward the French novelists. They were so easy to
[12:06] Odette di Benedetti get my hands on living in Paris. The last one I read was a sneaky peek manuscript I got from a lovely friend of mine. But, now, I have to find some new things to read!", she'd chirp, her dark eyes shifting back to the shelves with anticipation.
[12:40] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: Lilah shared Odette's chuckle, glancing towards the curtain the cat had retreated behind. "Och, he's gonna hate us then. Ah plan ta spend many hours goin' throu these stacks now that this place is open." Moving towards a nearby shelving unit, she reached out, letting her fingers brush over the leather of a nearby tome. Glancing over her shoulder back at Odette, "Och, Ah love the French novelists as well. Dumas, Baudelaire, Flaubert, de Scudéry. A short while ago Ah wis readin' In Search of Lost Time by Proust. Who's this friend of yers? Ah must keep an eye oot fer their novel when it reaches the island." Grabbing down a random book from the shelf before her, she looked over it before adding, "While on th' subject, dae ye have a type of book ye prefer ta read? Novels, non-fiction. Adventure stories, romance, treatise on the nature of man an' the like?"
[12:52] Odette di Benedetti "Oh, I read a little of everything. Philosophy to romance to...more scandalous things. Oh, my friend Simone. The book she is writing is about...", she paused, trying to recall the words used during their overindulgent discussion and drinking session, then snapped her fingers as she recalled,
"...feminine equality! That was it. It's a brilliant piece. My favorite, though, are some that make you ponder the way you've viewed the world. Have you ever read the Marquise de Sade?", she'd ask, half turning to look at Lilah over a shoulder as she read titles.
She'd eventually reach for one- 'Le Demi-Monde', by Alexandre Dumas.
Plucking it from the shelf, Odette turned it over in her hands, peering at the cover, though her gaze eventually lifted to stare idly, as if in a daydream, off to the side.
[13:16] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: Lilah nodded, seemingly pleased by the woman's answer. "A woman after ma own heart. It's all fine and good ta have preferences, but fer me personally, Ah just wanna devour everythin'. Includin' those more scandalous tales." Turning more towards Odette, she smirked some as she rattled off titles, "Justine ou les Malheurs de la vertu, Histoire de Juliette, ou les Prospérités du vice. De Sade had quite the mind...shame aboot the imprisonment." Glancing down at the book in Odette's hand, she quirked an eyebrow, "Hmm...Ah havnae tried that one...still, there's many titles Ah've loved that Ah had ta bring with me ta Callisto. A first edition of Carmilla is one of my favourites. A...friend even gave me a peek of the journals of Anne Lister before we left England, though she woudnae part with it...dinnae let it be said money buys everythin'."
[13:29] Odette di Benedetti 's slender throat rumbled with a small chuckle, her attention sliding back to Lilah as she mentioned some of de Sade's titles, making a mental note to search her trunks for the signed edition she had of Aline and Valcour for Lilah.
Leaving her companions face, her dark eyes drifted to the book in her hand, and Odette flipped open the first few pages to read through, her tone almost wistful as she spoke,
"I have....heard about things like this...in this book, while I was in France. Very intriguing.".
She tucked it into the crook of her arms, pivoting round to see if Lilah had chosen anything.
"Anne Lister. Oh, my. She was from Yorkshire, I do believe. Caused quite the uproar, did her diaries. Where they ever published? I will have to add that to my list. I wonder if we could find a copy to share.
Ohhh, and Carmilla!", she'd chirp, excited to hear about what Lilah enjoyed, new and known to her.
[13:32] Thirteen (aimee.frakture) went to step up the stairs, her arms holding a fresh parcel from the post office down at the docks. She smiled slightly to see people in the shop, nodding politely to the two women but not disturbing their conversation as she went to set the parcel down on the counter and relieve the NPC clerk that often stood behind the counter. "Let me know if I can help you find anything," she offered softly, pausing once she'd set down the package with the soft thump that meant it was likely more books to go on the shelves to glance down at the ever hungry cat when it padded over to see if packages included food. "Atticus, you are a menace. It's not from the fishmonger."
[13:38] Thirteen (aimee.frakture) will add that Atticus was definitely very careful to keep Thirteen between himself and the predators in the store.
[13:56] Delilah Harper-Windgrace: "Sadly, Ah dinnae think it's been properly published...ma friend wis tight lipped how it came inta her posession. That said, Ah may be able ta contact ma friend, see if she'd copy the text. Ah'll send her a letter, see if we can get a copy in yer hands." Delilah said, grinning over at her companion. Taking a moment to look through the stacks again, she finally stopped, exclaiming, "Oh! Ravenna and Her Ghosts by Veron Lee! Ah've been lookin' fer this." Holding it up successfully, she turned back as Thirteen entered. Recognizing the woman immediately, Delilah stepped forward. "Ms. Thirteen! Och, that explains the odd name of the shop! Ah'm happy ta see ye again...thou, selfishly, Ah'm also happy fer an open bookstore again, sae there's that." She looked down at the cat as he creeped out from behind the curtain, eyes darting towards her warily, but the chance at food was obviously stronger in the feline. "Ah'm afraid yer friend encounter two dog lovers and wis no' pleased with it."
[14:00] Odette di Benedetti 's pale head swiveled to see the lovely parcel-laden girl moving through the shop, and the cat returning from a spot behind the curtain to curiously inspect said person-with-parcel.
The offer of assistance would have the corners of Odette's mouth tugging up in a small smile, her pale head canting in unspoken gratitude before she'd turn back to her companion.
Watching Lilah, the diminutive woman folded herself into the chair nearest her, the book laid across her lap.
When Delilah called the woman "Thirteen", fathomless black eyes slid toward the counter once more, curiously.
So, this was the new owner of the book shoppe. It would be rude to ask the new proprietor about the events leading to the closing of the last one, so sh decided to save it for when she and Lilah were sipping libations to seek clarity.
"You have a wonderful place here. The fragrance alone is...intoxicating.", she'd offer in her customary velvet rasp and punctuate it with a deepening of her smile.