Path of the Vampire forum

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

* Yasu stepped out of the Lawtons, hefting the heavy box in his hands with a slight huff. His glasses hung a few inches low on the bridge of his nose, but it was enough to study the propped open book on top of the box, skimming its contents as he walked carefully through the streets.
* Jaxon loitered just outside the transit building, having just returned from a run across town to check a few things. He eyed the people that passed by, silently categorizing them in his head as he idly shuffled a deck of cards in his hands. The light of a passing car startled him, and his cards all but exploded from his palms to fly over the sidewalk.
* Yasu sighed, shifting the weight of the box and using his nose to turn the page. The text wasn't half bad, but its ability to sell was questionable. His eyes skimmed another line, only to jerk away. Something darted out in front of him, dragging his attention as he drew to a sharp halt. The box of books slipped from his fingers, landing on an edge and tipping over, spilling its contents like a lightweight drunk on graduation. Narrowly catching his glasses from hitting the ground, a faint frown tugged at his brows. He glanced over, taking in the other figure whom had caused the accident with his explosive card situation. Slipping the glasses away into the pocket of his winter coat, Yasu knelt down to right his box and begin returning its contents, carefully checking the books for damage. "You should be more careful with those," he commented idly, his voice tinged with a faint Irish brogue.
* Jaxon glowered at the tail-lights of the car as it turned a corner, then shook his head and sank down on his heels to pluck up each card carefully. He noticed, almost belatedly, that another had stopped nearby and was picking things up into a box. "Maybe I did it on purpose..." He replied with a rogueish grin. He was, afterall, a street magician. He snatched up the Jack of Hearts and held it out for the stranger to see. "Was this your card?"
* Yasu quirked a brow, pausing for a minute. Then he continued packing up the box. "I didn't pick a card yet," he pointed out matter-of-factly. Lifting one of the books, the title read 'Virals' with a dark picture of a female running from the scene. One of the pages were ripped, which he stared at with a slightly crestfallen look before dumping it back in the box. "It'll be fine," he muttered as if to himself, making a funny motion as if brushing something away from next to him.
* Jaxon wasn't perturbed by the seeming brush-off. He'd found most in this town were less-than-sociable, and he was nothing if not resilient. He finished picking up the scattered deck, checking it over to ensure each memorized card was retrieved, and then stood again. "Wan'na pick out a card now, then?" He asked, glancing at the box surreptitiously. He wasn't a snoop - well, he was, but he wasn't usually obvious about it.
* Yasu dumped the last book in the box, brushing himself off as he stood. He partially wanted to go home and just finish stocking the shelves, but in part he was curious. He pursed his lips, glancing over his shoulder for a full minute, then back. "Alright," he finally relented.
* Jaxon carefully shuffled the deck again, and then fanned out the cards with a flourish. "You take a card, look at it - but don't let me see! Once you know what it is for sure, you can place it back in the deck." He rattled off with a familiar pattern.
* Yasu picked a card at random, giving it a careful glance. He was, admittedly, more curious than he let on, enough to tuck the reading glasses back on his face and give the card an extra close look before slipping it back where he found it. Then he crossed his arms, watching expectantly and with great care.
* Jaxon didn't bother peeking, and made a big show of covering his eyes with his free hand as the stranger placed the thing back in the deck. He flashed a grin then as he shuffled the cards together quickly, over and over, until they were certainly a mess. He plucked up the top card then and held it out - the Jack of Hearts again. "Aha!"
* Yasu blinked a few times, then sighed. "Wrong. It was the Three of clubs." Another blunt reply, but for a brief moment his lips had twitched upwards at the corners. Then he shut his eyes, exhaling very slowly. If one listened closely, he seemed to mutter something very faint at the same time. Then he opened them again, tucking his glasses away.
* Jaxon frowned, but that was all part of the act anyways. "Really? Sheesh, this is embarrassing." He muttered, shuffling through the cards again. "Okay. Here it is!" He plucked up the top card again, and again it was the Jack of Hearts.
* Yasu twitched into a small smile again, despite his wishes. "I think you're picking your own card," he commented lightly.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

* Jaxon scoffed, but flashed a playful grin at the stranger. "Must be something wrong with the deck..." He flipped it over suddenly, spreading the cards out face-up to reveal each and every one had become that same Jack of Hearts card. He whistled for effect. "You positive that wasn't your card?" He wiggled his eyebrows at the man.
* Yasu couldn't help a flicker of surprise. How? He slid his glasses back on and glanced at the line of cards. "Alright," he mused as he removed them again, cleaning the lenses with his sleeve. "I'm impressed. Not ba- shut up.." he suddenly broke into a faint hiss, squinting at thin air. Or so it might have seemed. His glasses slipped from his hands, bouncing off the ground and shattering. "Now look what you made me do.." he muttered, stooping to pick up the frames and watching them dangle limply in his hand.
* Jaxon was ready to do a bow and take his praise, but he did have one final bit to the trick. "Thanks." He still said, then paused as the man seemed to speak to himself. Not as unusual as it ought to be in a town like this. He frowned at the broken glasses. "Sorry... is there something I can do?" He offered lamely, sliding his cards back into their box to tuck into his jacket pocket.
* Yasu shook his head, tucking the empty frames away again. "Don't worry about it, I have a spare pair back home. It's not your fault, afterall.." He cast a momentarily accusing glare over his shoulder, then swept the glass off the sidewalk and into the gutter carefully. "Thanks, though. That was a good trick."
* Jaxon had already hidden the three of clubs in one of Yasu's pockets, with another Jack of Hearts taped to it's back, but it suddenly didn't seem appropriate to do the grand finale. Maybe later the stranger would find the cards and it would cheer him up. "Thanks. If you want to see some of my other stuff I perform at the Bibliophila store in town." He offered.
* Yasu stood, straightening his coat, but he seemed comfortable enough with the current conversation to make no move to pick up his box just yet. "Bibliophila?" he asked with obvious interest. "A book store?"
* Jaxon gave a crooked grin and shrugged one shoulder. "Technically... it's a comic book store. Best place for magic, though." He replied with a chuckle. That wasn't exactly true, but it wasn't like he was really using his sorcery to do street magic. Much.
* Yasu let his shoulders relax an inch. "Magic, huh?" he murmured with an amused twitch of his lips, arms crossed loose over his chest. "I've never been one for comics, but I wouldn't mind swinging by for a glimps of magic." Though his words may have come across as somewhat playful, his expression seemed to hold only pure curiousity.
* Jaxon dipped his head in acceptance of the mans words, and tucked his hands into his pockets as well. "You should stop by sometime. The owners pretty cool. Maybe you'll even find a book you like." He said with a meaningful glance at the mans box again.
* Yasu followed his gaze and actually chuckled. "I have a small shop of my own. I think my collection doesn't need anymore from a hoarder like me," he joked, giving the box a little nudge. "Stocking up on a few teen-friendly novels. Not really my cup of tea, but they aren't half bad."
* Jaxon gave a friendly smile and shrugged again. "Not mine either. I'm more of an Anne Rice kind of guy myself." He paused, considering. "But Neil Gaiman puts out some great stuff. Not exactly comics, not really." He tilted his head. "You have a shop here in town?"
* Yasu gave Jaxon a once over, then shrugged. "A small bookstore. Only opened shop a little over a month ago though. It's on the edge of town, near Honeymead." His right hand gave a subtle wave behind him, almost like a slight shove, and he coughed into a fist barely concealing a word. 'Narcissist.' Then he rubbed slightly at his temple with a quiet huff. "Anne Rice is good, although I haven't picked up too many of her books," he admitted.
* Jaxon blinked almost owlishly at the mans cough, squinting uncertainly a moment later before letting it go. "Maybe I'll stop by your store and see if there's anything familiar there." He offered, then nearly jumped as the alarm on his phone went off. He flushed and flashed another grin. "I have to go." He was already stepping away from the stop toward the street, but paused to look over his shoulder. "Don't stay out at night alone too late. It's, uh... it's not safe." Jax ducked his head and walked away.
* Yasu stooped, lifting the box with a slight grunt under the weight of its contents. "Stop by anytime." He raised a brow at Jaxon's comment about the safety of the area, but shrugged it off. "Stay safe, then," he called over his shoulder, carrying on his way as well.