Window Shopping

[wolfs_daughter]

Echo was surprised to find a New Age type shop in a place like Searchlight, and she studied the facade of the building for a few minutes before twisting the doorknob to let herself in. It would probably be as dusty and rundown as everything else around here, but she'd been on a furniture run that morning and wanted to try something non-intense like browsing to celebrate. At least now she had a couch, second-hand though it might be. Tomorrow, she'd focus on getting more dishes.

Compared to the glare of the mid-afternoon sun, the store seemed very dim, and the hybrid glanced at the metal shelves before taking a few more steps inside. Maybe she could afford something simple, like a candle or a protection crystal. She was spiritual rather than religious, but she did believe that there were forces at work in the world that she didn't understand. Did they do Tarot readings here? She'd never tried that.

There was a counter near what seemed to be the center of the shop, and Echo checked her pockets to make sure she had some cash on hand. She was going to have to see about that job sooner rather than later. She could always wire home for money, but she wanted to be independent. Her parents had agreed that she could skip college for a year or so if she could pay her own way, and she didn't want to burden them if she could foot her own bills.

They didn't even seem to sell books here, but books in places like this tended to be a little dear. But she needed other things besides books, anyway. Like home furnishings. Maybe if she made nice with the proprietor, they could direct her to someone who was hiring. The brunette looked down at her clothes. At least she looked presentable, since she'd taken a shower after helping to wrestle the couch into the trailer.

The counter was glassed in, so she was reluctant to knock on it to get the attention of whoever ran the place. She gingerly rapped one knuckle on the wooden partition that held the glass in place, then tucked that hand into her pocket. "Hello?"

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[emmyclaire]

The heat of the day was finally beginning to dissipate, leaving Emmeline feeling a little less like she was muddling through a warm haze. She had been at her desk fielding phone calls for about an hour, trying to get a lead on a book auction set to take place in New Orleans in a week's time, when she had finally given up and let herself slip into a more quiet meditative state, eyes half-lidded and mind wandering.

The radio was playing, Donovan's greatest hits, something a little different than a southern rock kick she had been on, and the air smelled heavily of the strawberry incense she had been burning for most of the morning. Emmeline had been dreaming of her mother, all small frail hands and soft blonde hair, when a knock coming from the store proper brought her back to herself. With a quiet sigh, she stood and stretched, the white lace camisole top she wore lifting with her shoulder to reveal a strip of pale skin at her navel for just a moment before it fell flush again with the ankle length skirt tiered with flashes of deep burgundy and a flower print in the same shade.

There was a soft chime of bells from her silver anklet as her bare feet padded against the hardwood floors and out her office door. Spying an unfamiliar face among the bits and bobs in her store, Emmeline smiled, tousled hair of dark waves cocked to the side as she took in sight before her.

"Hello there," she called. "Something I can help you with, dear?"