(no subject)

[jonathanparagon]

[Some hours after this.]



The sun's slanting toward the western horizon by the time he reaches midtown. It's the last stop he's got planned; none of the others, aside from the first one or two to collect supplies, have borne any fruit at all -- and even on those, people who should have recognized him showed no sign of it.

A heavy shutter is halfway down the storefront of Alcina's when he gets there. The sign on the door still reads OPEN, though.

He ducks to look in under the shutter, knocks on the door. Offers Alcina a hopeful smile, when she looks up.

Comments

[sunnydalealum]

She looks blankly surprised for a moment, then pulls a professional smile onto her face and approaches the door.

"I'm sorry," she says to him through the glass, "we're about to close."

(It's barely five o'clock. Alcina's is usually open well into the night hours.)

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

Jonathan glances, blinking, at his watch. "Kind of early, for you. No problem, I hope."

[sunnydalealum]

"Cutbacks." Her smile doesn't waver an inch. "I'm sorry if you had outdated information about our hours. If you'd care to come back in the morning, I can offer you a discount for your inconvenience ...."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"It's kind of urgent," he says glumly. "I'll make it worth your while if you could deal with one more customer."

[sunnydalealum]

She's holding on to her smile by main force now, and it shows. Which is definitely not like her.

"Sir, this really isn't the best neighborhood after dark."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

That gets a wary glance around, even as he registers that she called him 'sir'. One more who doesn't know him, then.

"This whole city's not the best neighborhood after dark. Didn't used to stop you, but if you insist..."

[sunnydalealum]

Alcina's gaze sharpens.

"Have you shopped here before, sir?"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"I used to." He smiles faintly, with little or no humour in it. "Guess you could call it another life."

[sunnydalealum]

Her smile drops away entirely; she opens her mouth and closes it again, a look of weary understanding and resignation crossing her face.

She reaches to unlock the door, and steps aside to hold it for him. A cluster of chimes jingle happily as the door swings open.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

The bells are the only happy thing here.

Jonathan steps inside without waiting or asking for a verbal invitation. That far, at least, he can set her mind at rest.

"I remember when you weren't afraid of anyone, Alcina", he says quietly, then pauses to think. "Well. Almost anyone. A certain vampire whose name began with E..."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

The bells are the only happy thing here.

Jonathan steps inside without waiting or asking for a verbal invitation. That far, at least, he can set her mind at rest.

"I remember when you weren't afraid of anyone, Alcina," he says quietly, then pauses to think. "Well. Almost anyone. A certain vampire whose name began with E..."

[sunnydalealum]

The look of resignation is replaced by bafflement when he steps in uninvited, quickly concealed behind an unsmiling neutrality.

"What can I help you with tonight? Sir?"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Wish demons," is the blunt answer. "Specifically, the summoning and reversing the work of."

[sunnydalealum]

A long beat.

"Information, or supplies?" she asks, with something approaching her usual professional cheer.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Supplies, if you have them." He looks a touch more hopeful at her own brightened mood. "If not, though, information is much better than nothing."

[sunnydalealum]

"Supplies will depend on what kind of wish-granting demon you're talking about. Justice demons, djinni, contract worker.... I take it there's a specific wish you intend to reverse? Was it your own, or someone else's?"

Only one thing spoils her demeanor: a swift flicker of her eyes toward the back of the store.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Mine", he confirms, carefully not following her glance. "From what I remember of the granting, I'm pretty sure it was a vengeance demon."

[sunnydalealum]

"Ahh. Did you summon it deliberately the first time, or was it incognito?"

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"Incognito." He grimaces. "It came to me. Said it was a representative of... my employers, and I didn't watch my words well enough."

[sunnydalealum]

"Your employers?" Lightly; it could be a casual question.

It isn't.

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

"No one you need to worry about." It's just as light, would-be reassuring, but it's a shut down of that line of questioning. Who knows who it might get back to, in this brave new world? "It was lying, anyway."

[sunnydalealum]

"On the contrary." A small, false smile. "These days I need to worry a great deal about who my customers are, if they're in the business. If you weren't aware that our hours have changed, you may also not be aware of our background check policy."

[jonathanparagon.livejournal.com]

Jonathan considers this, studying her, for a few moments. "Okay. I work for the Watchers' Council." He doesn't mention Angel. There's no knowing where he is, after all, or if he's ever been in New York.

[sunnydalealum]

There's no visible reaction in her face, but her knuckles have gone white.

"I'm afraid I need to ask you to leave now, sir. We'll be open at eight tomorrow morning."

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