cheap thrills

“shame i really wanted to see how it ended,” emir said not moving to leave the shop as he walked along the shelves, his fingers brushing along the spines of the books, some old and new. “though honestly i’m not here for the tantalizing stories of mr. grey….i heard a new rouge witch was in town and i wanted to see for myself.” he turned the corner and was faced with the man, the supreme let out a smile. “hello there, emir cook, pleasure is all yours.”

Zander was mildly annoyed the potential patron chose to venture inside of his business rather than turn around and leave, but not enough to make a fuss about it. That was until the other male made his way around the shelves, ending up face to face with him. “News travels fast around here. Can’t say I’m surprised.” Closing his book, he turned towards him, expressionless. “I’m a rogue witch for a reason. I plan to stay that way. Sorry to disappoint.” He made a mental note of his name, Emir, yet didn’t offer his own. He felt no need to.

“Oh my.” Her voice was soft as she raised a hand to her chest. “You didn’t cast a protection spell because of little old me, did you?” Her demeanor hardened. “Or do you have multiple enemies out to get your ass in this town.” She clicked her tongue a few times. “Naughty boy. Your protection spell won’t last forever, and once someone figures out how to worm their way in, I’d say you’re up shit creek without a paddle.”

“Please. Get over yourself, honey. Anyone with a lick of sense around here has some form of protection. At least they should.” Zander didn’t think of himself as someone with enemies, but he’d be a fool not to take into account all the supernatural creatures he’d rubbed the wrong way over the years. They weren’t always the friendly type either. “Good thing I have you to protect me then, hm? You couldn’t leave your soulmate defenseless, what kind of woman would that make you?”

“You can pick up fifty shades tomorrow,” Elsie mocked him as she closed the door behind her, quick to scan her surroundings for anything that might harbor her from getting out safely - she could never trust a witch, not even her soulmate. “Surprise, bet you thought you’d seen the last of me,” she chuckled, aware that the phrase was a popular one among the youth. “You don’t have to worry though, I’m not here to get revenge for you stabbing me. I’m just curious to know if your little spell worked out in the end. You owe me.”

“Oh. It’s you.” Disappointment dripped from his words -- Zander wasn’t a fan of social interaction in general, she only made it that much worse. “You couldn’t get revenge if you tried. Protection spell.” He explained, motioning around the store. In a town like this one he needed a safe haven, he was sure to make his bookstore fit the bill. “It was more of a small cut than a stab anyhow, and well, would you look at that, you’re perfectly fine now. I don’t owe you anything.”

Harley watched as the pair across the street hugged, the man’s soulmate mark had glowed bright on his wrist and his soulmates had glowed bright on their leg, them all being able to see it because of the shorts he was wearing. The hopeless romantic she was, Harley turned to the person next to her, signing just a little. “It’s romantic isn’t it? The notion you could meet your soulmate on the street like that.” Curiosity swept at her, and she did not bite her tongue. “Have you found yours yet?”

“Unfortunately, yes. She’s about two hundred years my senior, selfish, and I have it on good authority she’d kill me in my sleep if I let my guard down. Romantic isn’t exactly the word I’d use to describe it.” It was an inconvenience if anything. “Don’t get caught up in the magic of it, kid. Trust me.”

Alina stood behind the counter of Cravings, currently serving some smaller brat that she wouldn’t have minded draining of his sweet pathetic life. The vampire still wasn’t accustomed to ‘working’, believing she didn’t need to when it came to a fulfilling life. However, it did pass the time in this dreary town. As she held herself back, the female waved sarcastically goodbye before turning her attention to the next customer in line.

“Welcome to Cravings, how may I help you and your taste buds today?” The enthusiasm she’d been coached to address customers was definitely not there.

“Aren’t you supposed to be sweet? Thought that was the whole schtick here.” He noted, raising a brow at the girl. “My grandmother’s coming to town, she’s insufferable unless she’s placated with bon bons. I need a dozen.”