| Details for Awkward Devastation |
| Summary: | Guilt builds and eventually secrets come out, leading to the devastation of a broken heart. |
| Date: | Friday, October 18, 1938 |
| Location: | Books Unbound, South Verdic Alley, London |
| Related: | Healer for a Broken Heart |
| Characters |
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Books Unbound
From the outside, this bookstore looks rather simple. Red bricks build up this two story building, with a large front window and three windows on the top story. On the large store front window, in large, crisp, golden letters, the words 'Books Unbound' is written, while a large wooden sign hands sideways above the black door, with the carved image of a stack of books.
Almost every inch of wall space has been lined with deep wooden bookshelves. Each lined with various books ranging from muggle to wizard literature. Dark hardwood cherry floors line this shop, with a large spiral staircase leading up to the loft on the right side. A bridge has been built between the right and left loft, connecting them. In the center of the store, a large twisted tree with dark green leaves, appears to have grown right out of the floor, it's twisted gnarly branches point to various sections, with small signs hanging off them pointing to different sections of books.
Underneath the tree several sofas, cushiony armchairs and coffee tables have been placed haphazardly, all apparently mixed and match, creating a rather eclectic look. By the door a large dark cherry bar can be seen, long enough to seat about five people, on the simple oaken bar stools. A large silver espresso machine, sits in the middle along with a small glass case of baked goods. Behind the bar, several shelves of boxes various types of tea, mismatched coffee cups and plates, can be seen below a large black sign with the days menu. Often times, the store's manx cat, can be seen slinking through the store or hiding in the tree, trying to get one of the multicolored song birds that have made the tree their home.
The first part of this scene is missing.
Thomas nods, "Yeah the broommaker from across the street. Good fella." he says slowly with a nod, "Not interrupting anything Laurence." he says gesturing him in again, "Phil and I were just discussing how she is going to run off with one of my patrons, because he cooks so good." he says jokingly, "You are welcome to some too." he says with a chuckle. "Just let me go grab you a fork." he says with a chuckle, as he finishes up making Phil her earl grey tea, sliding it over to her and heading towards the back room.
"Hello Laurence." Phil gives him a small smile and pulls the tea closer. "You aren't interupting. Thomas said you had been very supportive and kind to him. Which did not surprise me because it is just the kind of person you are." She takes a careful sip of her tea.
Laurence ahhs softly and sets the wood down near the entrance, hands going to his belt before he removes his hat, running his fingers through his hair and approaching the woman at the bar, tilting his head to the side as he approaches the young woman from behind, wrapping an arm around her and kissing the back of her head and peering at her plate curiously. Then he blinks and glances towards Thomas, quirking an eyebrow. "Oh? Running off then…on a daring culinary adventure without even telling me? Is that the way to your heart, cooking? If only I'd known…alas…" He fakes a pout.
Awkward is not something Phil does well for all her talent of walking into it. She turns pink as Laurence kisses the back of her head, her eyes widening a little more than usual. Sipping her tea with one hand she offers up her fork to Laurence with the other, turning the handle so he can take it easily. "One of his customers is a budding chef who has been giving Thomas all his left overs. This is something called General Tso's Chicken. It's quite nice, sweet and spicy at the same time." She shifts a little on the stool and glances at the wood near the door. "New shelves?"
There's a fond smile before accepting the fork from Phil, leaning over her shoulder so he can fork himself some of the goodness and taking a bite with a small nod, chewing slowly. Laurence just tilts his head to the side. "Hm? Aye…" He swallows and coughs. "Aye, we cut a deal…if I make him some pretty shelves, he'll teach me how to read."
Thomas steps out with the fork, head back to the bar, "I think it is pretty good, have you ever had General Ts…" when he sees Laurence and Phil, his first reaction is to chuckle and the position Phil has put herself in. He forces himself to stifle the chuckle, his eyes moving to look and find Jean, "Oh that cat just keeps getting out smarted by these birds…" he says softly shaking his head, moving back behind the bar, sliding the fork to Laurence. "Yeah I figured since we were right across the street from one another." his gaze moves to Phil for a second, clearly amused, "That we should work together, since it seems we both enjoy very similar things." he says bringing his coffee mug up to his mouth and taking a sip.
"It was always a shameful secret, Laurence. How you go through school without knowing how to read." Phil tuts. She shifts to give Laurence more room to eat with and sips her tea. "Well don't let me stop you two from doing manly things like putting up shelves. I'll just sit here and watch."
Laurence chuckles lowly. "You know, I only got through school cuz of my good looks and ability to manipulate wood." He finishes another mouth of food before offering Thomas a chin up and then he blinks owlishly and looks to Jean. "I really hope my girls aren't messing with her. Beag…she's a crabby one she is." Then he taps a finger against his chin, pondering. "Hmm…you can sit and give us feedback on how the work is going I suppose…and after we slave for hours, mop our brows."
Phil Phil snorts a laugh and gives Laurence a playful push in the side. "Go on then, get to work." She snags another piece of chicken for herself, using her fingers but only bites it in half and offers the rest to Jean the cat. "How are Belisma and Beag?"
Laurence chuckles lowly. "You know, I only got through school cuz of my good looks and ability to manipulate wood." He finishes another mouth of food before offering Thomas a chin up and then he blinks owlishly and looks to Jean. "I really hope my girls aren't messing with her. Beag…she's a crabby one she is." Then he taps a finger against his chin, pondering. "Hmm…you can sit and give us feedback on how the work is going I suppose…and after we slave for hours, mop our brows."
Phil snorts a laugh and gives Laurence a playful push in the side. "Go on then, get to work." She snags another piece of chicken for herself, using her fingers but only bites it in half and offers the rest to Jean the cat. "How are Belisma and Beag?""
Thomas takes a sip of his coffee, "Well I can certainly try, though I already admitted once, that things like this is not really my strong point." he says looking at the shelves, "I make them worse, that I can promise." he says with a small wave of his hand, before removing a pack of Chesterfield, pulling one out he offers the pack to Phil and Laurence.
Laurence salutes and sets Phil's fork down so she can access it and he laughs softly. "Then you can both sit and watch…after all, it is my one talent and my skill." He bows his head politely and moves to where he's left his pieces of wood.
"How is a lady supposed to admire your masculine forms at work if you won't cooperate, Thomas?" Phil shakes her head at the offer of a cigarette from his pack as she withdraws her own cigarette case and lighter. Bowing her head she lights one of her cinnamon scented cigarettes and then gets up to fetch an ashtray. "Do you fly, Thomas? If so, you should get a broom from Laurence. He makes the most amazing brooms. They are like real magic."
Thomas chuckles, "Well you are going to have to admire my charm and witty remarks." he says slowly touching his nose, "Because after five minutes of me trying to help, he will kick me out of my own shop." he says with a chuckle giving Laurence an wink. "Yes, not very often, but Laurence and I discussed that, he is going to give me a wood reading when we both have time." he says slowly with a small nod.
"Aye, and I have the nails in my kit to make sure you stay put out there." He's on his knees in front of a shelf, idly running his hand along the underside of the slab and closing his eyes, chuckling softly. "Don't say it like that…it makes me feel like a dirty old man…."
"You are a dirty old man," jokes Phil. She sets the ashtray down on the bar and slips onto the barstool again. Cigarette in hand she reaches for the book she set down earlier and begins to flip through it. Phil takes another drag off her spice scented cigarette. "Whereas Thomas is just a dirty young man. A baby really."
Thomas chuckles, "Well both of you make two very valid points." he says softly with a nod taking a long hard drag off his cigarette, exhaling the bluish grey smoke. "I will refrain from making jokes about wood readings." he says with a small wave of his hand, "Because I am obviously too young for such talk." he says with a smirk looking over at Phil.
Laurence's eyebrows raise as he looks over his shoulder to look between Phil and Thomas thoughtfully before snorting and turning back to his work. "Naaaaah…" Annnd he's busy feeling up wood, don't judge him.
Glancing at the door, or rather the window Phil frowns, "I should probably get going. I have to go do an interview tomorrow and it requires an early start." She takes another drag off her cigarette and hops to her feet. "Although I might be mean and take the rest of the chicken with me, depriving you both of the rest of it."
Thomas smiles softly, before looking at Phil, "Well just consider what we talked about earlier and let me know." he says softly taking another drag off his cigarette. "Also you can take it, I have more food in the icebox." he says with a small wave of his hand and a smile, "Good luck on your interview, I am sure you will do great." he says with a small wink, "If you want you can nab another book if you need one." he continues with a small nod.
Laurence gives you a cookie.
Laurence hmms softly as he straightens up and moves to Phil's side, holding out a hand and leaning in to steal a kiss with a quirk of an eyebrow. "Send me an owl, let me know you made it safely unless you want to stay in the flat tonight…its up to you, rest well." He then looks to Thomas and nods quickly. "She always does great."
Phil holds up the book she took from the bar, "I think I'll just borrow this one," she says to Thomas. Colour floods her cheeks and she turns her head catching Laurence's kiss on the corner of his mouth. "No, I should stay at home Felicity has been on the warpath because she hasn't seen much of me, but thank you." As she steps back she bumps into the barstool, losing her usual grace. "Oaph! So clumsy of me." Grabby hands take the box of chicken as the book gets tucked up under arm and Phil makes a tactical retreat.
Thomas nods, looking over at Phil with a smirk, "That she does, she is a real cut through journalist. Going to do great." he says slowly, with a small nod, he looks over Phil slowly, trying not to chuckle, but letting out a little one. "You take it easy Phil, stay out of trouble." he says running his hand through his hair slowly, "I'll catch you next time you stop by." he says slowly with a small nod, "Sure you can take that one, its the first the the series, so you will have a couple of follow ups if you like it." he says softly with a nod.
Laurence does reach out to try to steady Phil, but she's off like the little goddess she is and the broom master just smiles fondly and waves a hand. "Be safe…" He offers his parting words with a thoughtful expression.
Thomas takes another slow drag off his cigarette, as he watches Phil leave. He exhales the smoke slowly, watching the bluish grey smoke slowly float up to the ceiling, "You hungry? I can see what I have in the icebox." he offers Laurence with a small nod and smile, "Tea or coffee? I have those too." he says slowly running his hand through his hair.
Laurence considers what to say before he nods slowly. "Aye..a bit hungry but it can wait until after making the shelf." Then he's quiet as he goes back to working on the shelf. "How often does she come by?"
Thomas nods slowly, "Really wish I could help, but honestly I would just get in your way…" he says slowly taking a sip off his coffee and then a drag off his cigarette, tapping the butt causing the ashes to slowly float down to the ashtray, "Been a few days since she last stopped by." he says slowly, "Not really what I would call a regular for my shop, I have people who show up everyday, like Mr. White, who keeps bringing me food, always buys something, good chap." he says slowly with a nod.
"Ahh…I've been concerned about her lately, you'll keep an eye on her when she's here won't you?" Laurence asks before carefully beginning to remove a few books from a shelf and he rubs a hand over the topside of the shelf down, closing his eyes and murmuring softly to himself in Greek. Then he pauses to speak up. "Best part about living in this area…never a shortage of free food."
Thomas nods slowly as he stands against the bar and and Laurence works on repairing a shelf, he takes another sip of his coffee before taking the last drag of his cigarette, before putting it out in his ashtray. "I will I certainly worry about her too, she is a very lovely person." he says slowly, with a small nod, "But I will be glad to keep an eye on her when she visits." he says slowly with a small nod.
Laurence nods slowly and pulls out something akin to sandpaper and begins gently stroke the wood, even as he murmurs softly in Greek and chuckles to himself. When he does take small breaks it is to speak. "So, how's business been going? I'm sure you meet all sorts of interesting people. How'd your grand opening go?"
Speaking of people one meets at a bookstore, just then, Rhyeline slips into the bookshop. Pulling back the hood of her cloak, she peeks over, looking for Thomas. Catching sight of the book store owner chatting with- *gasp* his rival in romance, the girl pauses, growing perfectly still. Silent, the little mouse gazes at them with quiet caution. One could easily mistake such caution for her usual reserve when encountering new people.
Thomas slips down onto a bar stool, sitting his coffee on the bar. "It is going pretty well so far, already have a pretty solid customer base." he says slowly with a small nod, "Some very interesting people, but good people. A lot of them just want to understand muggles betters." he says slowly with a nod, "It creates a haven for them to discuss such things with like minded people, to be able to ask questions and not be judged." he says slowly with a smile, "That all that really matters." he says with a small nod. He see Rhyeline and says, "Ah Rhyeline, how are you doing Rhyeline?" he says softly, gesturing towards the bar, "Want to have a seat? Some black tea?" he asks slowly.
Laurence laughs and shakes his head. "Aye, that's all that really matters. I'm glad though, that you're here. It gives Phil another reason to stop by besides coming to the shop…there's really not much for her to do there if I'm actually filling orders, and so it just…I don't have many mates, I make 'em easily but not like…mates you can trust and such. So, m' glad you're here. She loves to read." He then straightens up, adjusting his tool belt and lifting a hand to Rhyeline. "Well hello there, its like a little fairy queen walked into the shop…" He only wears a white button down top and a pair of trousers seeing as he's working at this time and he flashes a grin. "All that's missing is the…diamond tiara and the gown made from gossamer silk."
Rhyeline seems to calm a bit upon realizing that Laurence and Thomas have yet to learn about eachother, or that if they have- there's no problem. Thomas knows the little one well. With a soft, shy smile over at him, she nods and is about to speak when the cascade of poetic compliments causes the little mouse's cheeks to grow quite pink and her voice to vanish.
Thomas stands up and takes a sip of his coffee as he listens to Laurence. His eyes move back between Rhyeline and Laurence for a moment, the I.M.C. politician Thomas comes out, "Well I thank you for your kind words and but is that really the topic at hand? Me? Did you see Phil's front page article?." he asks, attempting to redirect the topic, looking at Rhyeline, "Now about that tea." he says slowly.
"Aye, I tend to collect those. Her articles, I'm making her a jewelry cabinet of sorts…but you can't tell her, and I'm working to set the articles I've collected into glass, to make cabinent doors, its…a little complicated when dealing with moving as opposed to muggle photographs but, heh…I think she'll get a kick out of it." Laurence grins and then looks back to Rhyeline. "I remember you, from that day in the cauldron with Phil and the other women? You've been well, aye? I know good Thomas here is a looker, but it is he who should be in awe of your presence and not the other way around." He winks and holds a nail between his teeth as he works on setting a shelf ever so straight and then securing it.
Rhyeline's cheeks burn with warmth. Biting her lower lip, she tucks a strand of hair self-consciously behind her ear. It seems as if the skittish creature might be about to slip back out of the shop. However, her gaze flickers to Thomas when he reminds her of tea. With a little nod, her gaze flickers back towards Laurence and then without a word, the girl slips off into the rows of books, vanishing from sight.
Thomas moves behind the bar and takes a sip of his coffee, "I am seeing Phil and have slept with her." he says, before looking and watching Rhyeline slip off to her escape. His hand moves up as he takes another sip of his coffee, before removing his pack of Chesterfields from his vest and removes one pinching it between his lips and taking and lighting his cigarette, taking a deep breath, "I didn't know it was you til, this afternoon, I was going to let her speak with you, but I can't sit here in your good faith and not have everything out on the table." he says slowly, taking another drag of his cigarette.
Laurence is watching Rhyeline with a fond smile, that 'awww, she's adorable' face and he turns to Thomas after finishing securing the shelf and then his mouth opens to make a comment and just is left there for a moment, eyebrows raising as he just blinks and stares at Thomas for a few moment, head tilting to the side and he just doesn't speak for quite a few moments, he just stares with those freakishly husky blue eyes.
There's a tiny squeak before the sound of a book falling to the floor. Hidden from sight, Rhyeline stares wide-eyed as she listens for Laurence's reaction.
Thomas takes another sip of his coffee, "Would you rather I lead you on, lie to you?" he asks calmly, "Like I said I was waiting for Phil to speak with you, but you are making me feel right awful." he says before his cigarette comes up to his lips taking a slow drag off his cigarette, "I am sorry you found out this way." he says with a slow nod.
Laurence just closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and then takes another deep breath, shoving the shelf he was working on over before just taking a deep breath and he bites his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood and he speaks very softly yet clearly, he does begin to color up as well, a faint red blush before he kneels down to pick up his hammer but it slips from his grasp. That's when he just grunts, clutching his chest and falling over onto his side, hissing softly through his teeth and trembling.
Laurence just closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and then takes another deep breath, shoving the shelf he was working on over before just taking a deep breath and he bites his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood and he speaks very softly yet clearly. "Yeah." He does begin to color up as well, a faint red blush before he kneels down to pick up his hammer but it slips from his grasp. That's when he just grunts, clutching his chest and falling over onto his side, hissing softly through his teeth and trembling.
At the sound of the bookshelf slamming back, Rhyeline peeks out from behind the bookshelf, wide-eyed and frightened. Seeing Laurence fall over, the girl emerges without hesitation. Shotting Thomas a warning glance to stay back, she kneels at Laurence's side. "Come. Let's go. You need go come with me…" she tells him, trying to take his hand.
Thomas takes a deep sigh as he watches Laurence's reaction, though as he falls, Thomas goes to help, though he Rhyeline's glance tells him otherwise, he takes a deep drag off his cigarette and stares at Laurence, silently.
Laurence closes his eyes and weakly shakes his head as he takes a deep breath, gasping it in. It takes him a few moments before he reaches out to shakily take Rhyeline's hand before gasping again, his other hand gripping and twisting the material of his shirt over his heart and he just shakes his head.
Taking Laurence's hand Rhyeline places two fingertips to his wrist. Her gaze darts to Thomas as she says in an urgent tone, "Help me get him up. We need to get him to St. Mungo's." Thomas will need to do all the lifting; the girl is as weak as she seems.
Thomas leaves his cigarette in the ashtray to burn out on it's own, he moves over quickly and takes him under his arm and heaves him up, "My fireplace is in the backroom." he says slowly, heading towards the back, once getting to the fireplace, the head to St. Mungos.
Laurence may be sweaty and pink, lashes lowered as he pants heavily and for once not in the happy fun times type, but he just is pretty limp, save for spasm like jerks that happen periodically as he gasps in another breath. He does occasionally whisper 'no' at when St Mungo's is mentioned and he jerks harder but he's pretty helpless at the moment.
Rhyeline bites her lower lip at Laurence's faintly whispered protests. The little one empathizes more than he knows with his apprehension. "I'll go on ahead… try to find Keenan…" she tells Thomas before slipping out from under Laurence's arm and vanishing with a sharp clap.