another day, another dollar [Open]

[likedietrich]

McKinnon's Rare Manuscripts and Spellbooks

Every morning, like clockwork, Marlene McKinnon can be found opening up the bookstore on a quiet corner of Diagon Alley, feeding the cats, Kitsune and Bastet, and then settling in for a day of the occasional customer and the occasional cursed book causing the occasional small explosion. Nothing to see here, really.

In the window today is the usual display of recently arrived tracts - a few from Egypt, one from Japan, a trio of interesting rituals from North America - but also a discreet sign:

Part-time Bookstore Help Wanted. Inquire Within. Time Travelers Welcome.

"I kept offering the job to Remus, but he's a stubborn pain in my ass."

Diagon Alley

Eventually, the shop does close, and Marlene steps outside instead of heading straight upstairs to her apartment. September's here, and there's a bit of a chill in the air that makes her shiver as she wanders aimlessly down the street. Technically, her destination is dinner or a drink, eventually, but she takes her time about it. She pauses outside Quality Quidditch Supplies for some time, eyeing the very latest in broom technology before she tucks her hair back.

"Sometimes I think I should moonlight as a pro Quidditch player, just for the excuse to buy brooms."

Comments

[veriloquent]

"Luna," she says, putting a bit of cream in her tea with hands that mostly manage to keep steady. Trying for a smile comes even more easily, now, with the calm the young woman is exuding, "I'm-- Luna Lovegood. One of the displaced. My Mum's family usually lives around here and my Dad's has been in-- Ottery St. Catchpole for a while."

The woman even looks like she might be about the age her parents would be, in this time. Luna's been too worried and afraid to see if either of her parents are around in this version of time. She knows they'd likely both be happy to see her, but she isn't certain she's ready to see them while she's still like this.

[likedietrich]

She's not the sort to ask for life histories, would never even think to ask in most circumstances, but with people out of time she can't help but have some curiosity. "Xeno Lovegood?" She asks, tilting her head to one side. Luna was right that they were close in age - about a year apart, really, and different Houses at Hogwarts so they hadn't had much to do with each other.

But Xenophilius Lovegood had been as odd a boy as he ends up being as an adult. The type you remember. "I remember him from school." She thinks about saying more...but then shakes her head a bit. "Have you worked much with books before?"

[veriloquent]

The mention of her father has her brightening just a hint; something closer to eagerness in her eyes.

"Do you know him well at all? Is he all right? Do you think he'd-- like to see me?"

The father she had left behind absolutely would have agreed to the latter. She isn't so sure about this strange version of the person she loves so dearly. It takes a moment to get her to refocus again on the reason she is.

"Not-- worked with, necessarily. I am-- was-- a Ravenclaw at school. I like studying very much, and learning all sorts of things, and I did quite like the library there. It's rather focused on things people can-- prove are real and not so much things that are more-- unknown or undiscovered, but it was still rather nice. I've read all sorts of things, but I especially enjoy Charms."

Besides, she thinks she needs things that are a little more tangible, now.

[likedietrich]

Marlene smiles a little. "He's a year or so older, and I was in Gryffindor. But he used to, ah, expound on history of magic to a certain degree." There's an odd divide between Houses at Hogwarts in some ways, even beyond Slytherins and Gryffindors tending to act like they're sworn enemies. Most only made close friends in their own house.

Still. "I expect he'd swallow a child from the future a bit better than most," she says. It's odd, she thinks. There have been no McKinnons arriving from the future, none at all.

"Well, charmwork is fairly useful here," she says as she stirs her tea. "A lot of what we get are thinks that have been jinxed or hexed." Or cursed. "Those are all charms, when it comes right down to it, so someone skilled with that is good to have around. Most of what you'll be doing is reshelving. We get used a bit like a library, you see. Can't get into Hogwarts as easily after graduation."

[veriloquent]

That earns a small smile, "That sounds like Dad." She's glad that much hasn't changed. It makes her feel a little more at ease.

Marlene's words manage to make her feel even more so, and she nods after a brief heartbeat, "I-- imagine he would yes. Maybe I-- will stop by." Though she isn't certain she'd want to expose her father-- even her alternative one-- to the condition she was in.

She takes another sip of her tea as she listens to Marlene speak, nodding every so often.

"That makes quite a bit of sense. I don't know if I know quite-- all of the charms that might be helpful, but I'm quite a quick learner, if you don't mind teaching."

[likedietrich]

"Just as well you come in with that attitude," Marlene tells her. "Some of them are charms you might learn in school, but some are a bit more advanced, and some I've invented myself." She winks. "They're not going to be in any book, because they don't publish twenty-two year olds all that often."

She takes a sip of her tea and raises her brows. "I need someone mostly in the mornings. Will that suit?"

[veriloquent]

That actually manages to earn something like a laugh, from Luna. It seems to surprise her, as well.

"I'm looking forward to learning them, then."

It's almost like being with her Mum again, meeting someone so enthusiastic about coming up with spells.

"And yes, mornings should work fantastically. I've-- not much else to do, at the moment, so my schedule is rather free."