Runescaping [Private Job]

Job Details:

A short figure weaved his way between the people that covered the street, his navy blue coat pulled about his person that draped down to his ankles, an occasional breeze flowing down the street causing the loose fabric to rise and fall as he walked. Despite the array of dazzling flora that surrounded him, it was the blooming capital after all, the figure kept his stride. He had a purpose here, and he refused to be distracted.

"It should be right around this corner..." He muttered to himself, peeking at the address on a scrap of paper concealed beneath his cloak. "I just need to get past this crowd."

The crowd, it turned out, was huddled around the entrance to a sizable corner store bookshop, gawking at the piles of identical books being placed on display in the windows by a couple of already exhausted-looking staff members. Runescaping. A Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Understanding Runes, by Bruno Talimoor Was neatly written on the front of every copy.

The wall of eager customers would have been a difficult obstacle, had Nikomar's size not allowed him to squeeze between them relatively unnoticed in the hubbub. He knocked on the window which he was now pressed against. One of the staff members, having just set up a wooden easel to display the front cover of the book, looked over at Nikomar, shook his head, and gestured towards the clock on the far wall of the shop, clearly indicating it was too early to let customers in. Nikomar knocked again, this time presenting the piece of paper he had been concealing under his coat. It was a copy he'd drawn of the advertisement asking for help at the book release. This time, the shopkeeper's eyebrows raised slightly, before he hurriedly moved over to the door.

"This way. Quick, quick, quick!" He said as he held the door open barely wide enough for Nikomar to fit through, ushering him in. "Thank goodness, we didn't think anyone was going to come."He said with a sigh once the door was closed. "Please position yoursel... pardon me asking, but what's your name?

"Nikomar."He answered, looking around the shop. Despite it's fairly large size, the ancient timber frames lined with row upon row of books along with the low ceiling gave the building a cosy, homely feeling. Several ladders were propped up against some of the higher shelves, some of the books on those shelves had fallen on their sides, and likely needed sorting. However, the staff members were far too occupied to sort out minor issues like that. They bustled around the building, making sure as many books were on display as possible, and making final preparations before opening time.

"Ahh, good, well we'll be opening before long. Position yourself by one of the tables at one of the windows... you might want a chair to see above the crowd, and well... sell books. You'll only need to stay until we've dealt with most of the rabble. Are you a fan of Mr. Talimoor's previous work?"

"Well... I'm afraid I've never read it." Nikomar shook his head, apologetically."But it must have been good to draw such a crowd."

WC: 531

Nikomar had just dragged a stool out from a corner of the store, as the shop assistant had suggested, to stand just above the crowd. He was about to haul himself onto the stool when he noticed the new arrival standing at his table, also preparing herself for the incoming wave of customers.
"Here." He said, nudging the stool towards the girl. "You need it a little more... Poko, was it?"

Did her eyes just... no, don't be daft.

The door swung open with the gentle chime of a bell. It had begun. The mayhem was instant, a sea of excited customers surged into the room, waving fists clutching a handfuls of jewels. The customers crowded around the table, blocking Nikomar's view of the staff on the other table. Nikomar could barely keep up with the demand of the crowd, handing out book after book with one hand and accepting money with the other, half the time he wasn't even fast enough to count the cash. Impatient hands weaved through the crowd, attempting to snatch a book when his gaze was averted. Of course, it never was, and this behavior stopped quickly once he shifted his dagger forward, making it clearly visible. He couldn't use the thing even if he wanted to, if he could he wouldn't be here.

"I...I...I can't believe it!" One customer exclaimed upon receiving his copy. "So many long months of waiting, I think I'm going to cry!"

Getting emotional over a novel, that I can understand... but a book about runes? Nikomar though to himself.

"Excuse me sir, but you're blocking other customers from getting their books." Nikomar said, politely. The man was cradling his book, twisting back and forth on the spot, his chin pressed into the covers as he embraced it.
"Um, sir?"

"Oh, yes, terribly sorry." The man said, snapping out of his trance-like behavior. "I'm sure you understand that... today is just such an important day." He turned to re-enter the crowd, the next customer pushing past him as he did so, but he stopped before taking a step. "But what am I saying? You have the honor of serving Talimoor himself. Oh! I'm certain he'd be so proud of you if he were here... wait, do you know him?" He added, turning back to the table. "Oh my, it would explain why you were given such a valuable position, you know Talimoor in person?!

"I'm very sorry to disappoint you." Nikomar said, glancing towards the man as he served another customer. He wasn't sure how to handle this... enthusiastic person. "But I hadn't even heard of him until I took this job." The man's jaw dropped. He inhaled so sharply that he made a small shriek, turning the heads of nearby customers. "How... have you lived?" The man hoarsely whispered, barely audible above the hubbub of the store. "I'm just... so sorry. I can't believe someone has gone so long without the wonders of runes revealed to them." And with that, he slipped back into the crowd, still clutching his book like a newborn baby.

"Remind me never to publish a book... so, why are you here?" He asked his companion, the occasional brief moment of respite granted as a satisfied customer barged their way back into the crowd, preventing a new one from coming forward "I'd imagine someone wouldn't make such a commitment without a reason, are you a fan of Mr.. um..." He glanced at the cover of the book he was holding, before handing it to a customer. "...Mr Talimoor. Or are you just really into runes?"

WC: 600
Total: 1131

I didn't imagine it. Her eyes really did change colour... interesting.

"Well, I there are few runes I've been curious about for some time for personal reasons, but I haven't managed to find any information about them." He said as he handed out another copy of the book. The worst of the crowd had received their books, and had left. A large number of people were hanging around outside the store, excitedly flicking through the pages, and pointing out certain lines and diagrams of interest to their friends. "I figured that the number one rune mage must know something about them, and seeing the opportunity to obtain one of his books for free... well, I couldn't resist. . He leaned a little closer to Poko. "Im not sure about his fans though, some of them seem a little... too enthusiastic over a rune book."

At that moment one of the owners got up from their table, which was finally visible through through the crowd, and made their way over to Nikomar and Poko. He looked even more exhausted than before, but a relieved smile was on their face. "Poko and Nikomar, I can't thank you two enough, it would have been a riot if we were alone. Now that the worst is over, I think we can manage from here on out." He began to walk over to the shop's main counter, where another employee had been distributing books. "Please, come this way and we'll sort out your pay. Oh, and of course, the books." He took two copies of Runescaping out from behind the counter, the two copies that had been reserved for them, before rummaging for cash. Nikomar fastened his copy to his belt, next to the other book he was carrying.

"Did you say you were in a guild?" Nikomar asked, turning to Poko as they awaited their pay. He'd thought guilds only accepted the strongest of mages, and didn't consider such a young person who would help out in a bookstore an asset to such guilds. He also didn't see a guild mark anywhere on her body. "I've heard about them, my father mentioned one called Crystal Swan a lot, but I don't know much about what it's like to be in one."

"Here we go." The shopkeeper said, emerging from behind the counter, placing two piles of jewels on the counter. "I believe that's how much we advertised for. Thank you ever so much once again!"

"This will keep me going for a little while, I was starting to run a low on money." He said, taking his pay before turning back to Poko. "It was nice to work with you, where do you plan on heading?"
WC: 452
Total: 1583