still lost at sea

"I think you'll find it a compelling read then, the moon affects so much of our lives." It definitely affected hers when she had something to brew, everyone knew that a potion was more potent when made under a full moon. "That cream will fix them right up then, my sister used to say that making it was the only thing I was good for." She held such a sentiment with pride, any compliment that came from Winnie was held in a high regard since they were so rare. Caught up in the memory of her sister, Mary nearly skipped past a piece of information that brought her to tilt her head in confusion. "But why are you working on an old sail boat? Do you not have enough money for a new one?" Maybe it was rude to inquire about how much money he had but if she was wrong in assuming his family's capital was grand then she might as well stop her plans now as he probably didn't have much use to her and her sisters.

Raising an eyebrow first at Mary herself and then glancing down at the cream in his hand, he wondered just what having a sibling must be like if she could sound so happy talking about what seemed to him like a borderline insult given from her sister. “Are you close with her? Your sister?” he asks, not even hesitating in trying to make the conversation more personal and find out anything new he could about the woman. She was so intriguing, Eric found himself wanting to know everything there was to know about her and then some. When a question was shot back his way as well, he couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head. “I do. But there’s no character in something new. There’s none of the blood, sweat, and tears that should go into running a boat on the sea - they’re all so automotive nowadays. Where’s the fun in that?”

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The way she spoke of the siren spell and the way she herself almost felt trapped within it once may have been enough to tug on Eric’s heartstrings ever so slightly. Perhaps he would have felt bad for her and the obvious pressure she had placed on herself - but that was the thing… the entire ordeal had been in her own hands. She had chosen to take away his autonomy and use her magic to entrap him, he certainly hadn’t asked for it to happen. All of this, the confliction she had felt was from her own doing - Shelly had no one to blame but herself. So no, he didn’t feel bad - he wouldn’t let himself. In part because he knew she didn’t deserve to feel his pity, not after everything she’d done to him… But also because he couldn’t even really believe anything she said to be the truth and not a manipulation tactic to get him back on her side.

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It wasn’t hard to believe that she was likely telling the truth, that the tidbits and facts about herself that she had shared over their time together had all been real. Eric hadn’t really doubted that much. It was the question of his own feelings, how he would have reacted to all of that information, that he knew he couldn’t trust. On paper Shelly seemed like everything he could have wanted, every piece of what he knew about her created a woman he honestly knew he truly could have fallen in love with. But he’d never been given the chance to actually do that, to let his own feelings grow naturally the way they should in a relationship. Instead he was spelled to fall for her, to love her right from the get go, and that was where the trouble lied. How could he know if any of things he felt over time had been real when it all started as a lie and manipulation?

Her eyebrows raised at his small performance, trying not to give into the smile he very clearly wanted from her. It was entertaining, seeing what else he would do to impress her or charm her. None of it worked, obviously. Mary wasn't bright but even she knew it was a terrible idea to fall for a man she'd put a spell on. But, it was times like these that she could maybe see why Sarah would place these spells in the first place. Glancing at the few items he held and back to his face, she decided it wasn't enough. She turned around for a few more items, namely a book that explained the importance on the phases of the moon and a salve of her own invention that left anyones skin smooth for a month straight. Pushing these items into his hands as well, she finally gave in to her smile. "Let's ring you up."

There’s an obvious smile just wanting to burst through on her face, but he’s hardly surprised that Mary fights it back. She was always like this, wanting to seem like she was immune to any of his advances or offers of friendship - but Eric knew better than to believe that. Something was budding and building here, he could feel it and he liked to think she could as well. It was different from the immediate and all encompassing passion he had felt for Shelly back when he was under her siren song, which is why he doesn’t for a moment even consider that maybe the woman across from him could have spelled him as well. The feelings that were growing seemed completely natural in his eyes. Accepting the book and the salve without any hesitation, he shoots her a grin in return and eagerly makes his way over to the register. It’s only then that he finally looks down at what was placed in his hands. “I’ve always been interested in the moon and its pull on the sea. It’ll be interesting to see how else it impacts our lives from so far away,” he comments, fully planning to read the entirety of the book over the course of the next few days. “And my hands have been needing a new lotion. I’ve been working on an old sail boat lately and the ropes have been killing my hands.”

"Pfft, don't lie." Mary was almost convinced his sole mission of every day sought her out in some way, she still didn't quite understand how powerful the spell was but it was surely strong enough to warrant multiple visits. Ones of which were useless to her if she hadn't ask him for favors every now and again. "This couldn't possibly be your favorite shop when you don't ask for anything. You don't buy any crystals or candles or ask for any readings. You're as good to me as any trespasser would be in here." His smile, as pleasing as it could be, didn't sway the girl in any way that mattered as much as he would've wanted while under her spell. She'd been told he was very handsome by Sarah, Mary could kind of see that but romance wasn't part of her plan, whatever that may be exactly. "Friend? You would consider us friends?" The spell he was under was real and as straightforward as it could be: For as long as he was awake, he would favor Mary, without any reasoning why or an explanation as to how it could be. Whatever his answer would be, it wasn't truly honest. And yet, she awaited his dishonest answer.

Placing a hand over his heart, his jaw dropped in faux offense to her statement. “I would never lie,” he argues admittedly, both because it’s true and in hopes of raising a bit of a smile out of the woman. It’s only once she mentions how little support he’s ever shown for her business that Eric steps forward and looks around for a moment before picking up the first thing he sees. A white crystal sits in his hand, but he doesn’t stop just there, turning to grab a set of basic candles as well. He would have gone after a book or two on top of that, but that would require passing Mary to get to the shelves and he didn’t want to get too close to her personal bubble just yet. She was always finicky on how close and how often she allowed him to be near. “I would like to purchase these,” he declares with a new grin on his face now. “Because I always support my friends and their business. Because that’s what we are - friends.” It was the most basic way of explaining whatever type of relationship there was between them both, though it hardly even scratched the surface on the affection that he held for the woman.

closed starter for @princecapitaine location: mary's workplace

Returning to Mary’s shop hadn’t been on his to do list for the day, but when his mother sent him out to grab a few things in town and he happened to be passing by, well it seemed a waste to not at least pop in for a moment to say hello. Which was all he really intended to do, though he also knew very well that if there was anything Mary may need done, he’ll without hesitation be sticking around to lend a hand. It was almost strange, the way Eric felt for the woman - it wasn’t quite love, he knew that much to be true, but it certainly was something. A crush perhaps, or maybe not even that. A hero worship of sorts. She was, after all, the one who had helped him out of the spell Shelly had cast upon him, freeing him to finally live a life of his own choices. How could he not feel someone indebted to her after that? Though he wished he knew better where he stood from her perspective, the woman never seemed upset to see him but hardly came across as that happy either. Still, he found himself drawn to her shop and presence like a moth to a flame - even when he knew it was a bit ridiculous to be showing up again so soon, like right now. “I was simply in the neighborhood,” he promises, raising his hands as if to prove his innocence with his ever charming smile. “Can’t a man come visit his favorite shop when passing through town? Is it a crime now to want to see a friend?” His tone was teasing as he asked the questions, stepping further into the store and looking around as if he expected anything to have changed since his last visit. It was something he always did, always so fascinated with Mary’s work despite his slight hesitation to get involved with anything magic related anymore.

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What she said made sense, it was uncommon for the woman that he’d known to ever apologize or admit her own wrongdoings. But there were still the questions that permanently lingered in the back of his head every time he thought of the blonde since finding out the truth – how well did he really, truly know her? How much of it all had simply been the spell? What had been real? It was almost impossible for Eric to say, leaving him far more conflicted than he ever had been in his life. Which was an incredible feat, honestly, considering he’d spent his whole life battling between what was expected of him by his parents and everything he himself actually wanted. But in comparison to the doubts he had for his feelings for Shelly, all of that seemed like nothing. “When have I ever actually known you at all?” he finally shoots back, figuring there’s hardly any point in lying or pretending like he was fine anymore. She knew what she’d done, the damage she’d made of him and his trust, there was no use in shying away from it. Again, her declaration of missing him hardly seemed genuine - yet Eric couldn’t find it in himself to fully believe it to be a lie either. And he did still need another drink, unable to return to his friends empty handed, so against his likely better judgment he gave a sharp nod of his head. “Fine. One drink. But I’m watching the bartender make it and you aren’t touching it for a second.” He had no clue how her magic actually worked, if she even needed a drink to spike to put him back under her spell, but he wasn’t about to take any chances.

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The fact that she thought he wanted anything to do with her, to even see her or talk to her again, yet alone actually have a drink with her was absolutely ridiculous. After everything that she had put him through, the trust issues that had deeply seeded themselves within his subconscious because of her, the very last person he wanted to spend any time with was Shelly. And the fact that she didn’t seem to understand that only proved to Eric that she had no clue how much she had messed up. Despite admitting that she knew she deserved the barb he had thrown her way, she still thought he’d appreciate her company. The apology that came out of her mouth meant nothing, it was likely all a show - just like everything else she’s ever done or said. “And I’m supposed to believe you?” he questions, shaking his head towards the end. “No, I’ll stick to my own drinks.” He wants to walk away, to leave it all at that and pray he never has to run into her again - but the bartender still hasn’t come over towards him and if he returns to his crew without his drink, they’ll know something was up. Obviously none of them knew the truth of what had happened between himself and Shelly, and he wanted to keep it that way. As far as they were concerned it was a mutual breakup that had occurred when they realized they were moving too fast. Why he felt the need to protect her and her image, Eric wasn’t entirely sure and he refuses to think enough on it to figure out.

who: @princecapitaine where: the lair

If he had known where the night was going to lead him, Eric would have never left his apartment. He would have shot down his friend's suggestion of actually going out for drinks somewhere other than just on one of their boats. But how was he to know that leaving the house and stepping foot into the lair would bring him right back to the one person he truly wished he could go the rest of his life never seeing again. If he had just been paying a bit more attention to his surroundings maybe he would have spotted her before she had a chance to approach him. As it was though, there was no getting out of this, at least not until the bartender was done with the round of drinks he had ordered for his table. “That makes two of us,” he states simply, wanting to say so much more but knowing now wasn’t the time to really get into things. “Thanks. I guess it’s what having free will can do for a guy.” Or maybe he could make a dig or two - it only seemed fair after all that she had done to him.