“What could have been done?” SHe dismissed, not as a genuine question, but a dismissal of fault. “All the more reason for one to take greater care in choosing actions and words, moving forward.” Allegro pauses, that dusty, sunshine blue taking back where the darker umber had crept up her arms, even the crackling yellow was lessening its static-ball interruptions. “I look forward to learning more in the near future.”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

That question was a complicated one, and required careful, accurate phrasing. Allegro didn’t want to depart any more, or less, than the appropriate amount of gravity to it.  “Life is difficult enough for anyone. More so, perhaps, for one such as us. I spoke hastily and fearfully to the individual who first approached me, and believe that was a mistake- One that weighs more heavily the more I realize that the privacy and solitude I wanted was not in my best interests.  Now, because now I grasp some of the folly of my behaviour. Here, because here is the only place I had heard of to seek.”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

“I have no further questions.” She answers with another inclination of her head. “What would you ask?”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

Allegro lifts the card up to give it a more pointed reading- Specifically the oath of residency. “How should I dispose of this once I’ve made a decision about the freehold?”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

Given her normal cautiousness, combined with the look on her face, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he expected her to say no. But oddly enough, when she drew in a small sip of air to speak, it came in tandem with a nod. “That might be prudent, all the same. What prescience should that entail?

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

“I appreciate your candidness.” She turned the card over in her fingers once, twice, then let her hands fall back to rest, crossed low in front of her so that her gaze might return to his face properly. “Hasty decisions have not served me well in the past, so I would like time to think about the weight of this choice before it’s made. ‘A few weeks’, however, is likely far longer than should be necessary.”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

She nods, but is thrifty with her words at first, uncertainty tinging the dark, shiny-green hint of gloves at her elbows a muddy, burnt-orange that takes over the beetle-like green. “Who would one speak to in regards to officially taking part in this collective? What would the necessary processes be?”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

“I turned away the first offer at learning more about the Freehold. It seems now our discussion might be shorter if I had been wiser. I would make up for that mistake by listening now, if you would be so kind.”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

“I do not, no.” She never stuttered, her head and chin remained high and poised as she spoke. Indeed, aside from the crackling-yellow-static-through-dusty-sunny-blue, and the seeping metallic green shimmer at her arms and hairline, even the usually swirling, ever inconstant colours inside her glass skin was still. These statements were serious business and while she conducted them, even her emotions were still.

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

She thought over the phrasing for a moment and inclined her head. “I swear this.” She agreed, finding no possible fault in the phrasing, and indeed several carefully put ...Not escapes, but at least she wasn’t rendered entirely helpless should her appraisal of the situation shift.

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

She inclines her head, her fingertips settling and re-settling in place like the flight feathers of a songbird. “That would be what I was referring to, yes. I was not entirely certain how much might be safely said- but yes.”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

“That could have been what it was called.” Glassy eyes and a cautious but not overly shrewd face linger on the crown he wears. “It has been some months, and my memory is imperfect.”

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

She adjusts the carriage of her shoulders and rests her hands together, low in front of her stomach. “A few seasons ago, I was approached by a resident of the city about a collection of people who have similar experiences, to discuss resources and means. I declined at the time, but am reconsidering my position.” She gives nothing away- nothing that shouldn’t already be as obvious to him as it is to her- but she isn’t entirely willing to show all of her cards, just in case. The metallic green grows higher up her arms, reaching past her elbows, and starting to seep down the sides of her face at her hairline as well.

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

She turns, and there is an alien grace to even that simple motion- like one could set a china teacup atop her head as she did so have it not so much as ripple.  The swirling colours under her glass skin wash with an airy, robins-egg blue, motes of dust hanging in it as if illuminated by sunlight, and a metallic green- flecked and glittering like nailpolish dyes the extremities of her hands as one might pull on lace gloves. “..Good afternoon. I believe I am looking for the proprietor of this shop.” As soon as the words leave her lips, static-thin crackles of white-yellow begin to zip through the blue,

Later in the day- Somewhere in the neighbourhood of early dinners and the starts of some first dates, A very /very/ tall, slender woman walks into Book's. To mundane eyes, she's simply very pale, with long, silvery hair. But to others of Fae influence, she was like a thin glass vial in the shape of a person, with swirling colours flitting through a void. Smoke, metal, liquid, sand- all of it and more, in a kaleidoscope of hues.

William is about to make his usual sudden-from-behind introduction when he has a moment’s sudden realization that he recognizes this woman - at least, the description of her.  This requires a different approach.  He makes his way back into the Stacks and walks out like a normal bookstore owner.  “Good afternoon.”

He bears the subtle yet inescapable marks of someone else touched by the Emerald Magnificence.

The blue clears from grey to sky bright as the conversation continues.  “I was born here. Both times.” SHe pauses. “I’m sure you know what I mean.”

“Thank you for asking.” The blue turns to a deeper, thunderhead dark purple, but the expression on her face is a soft smile.

The afternoon is quiet. It's too early for the rush hour crowd, too late for the stay at home herd. Allegro moves with each step in time to the radio music that plays barely-audible overhead throughout the store, picking at and through various items in the fresh produce section

Giles is also going through the produce, examining things carefully for only the very best of what little he can find here. He inclines his head to Allegro in acknowledgement, then goes back to his shopping.

There’s an air about him of someone used to service, it’s in the way he holds himself, a formal and proper posture that doesn’t seem forced, and the way he keeps his feline eyes focused on his task with very little distraction. Although for all that there’s something welcoming, if incredibly reserved about him

She keeps her chin high, and her gaze low- she’s watching him closely even if the low-lidded expression of her face deigns otherwise. Subtly the deference he shows feeds her ego in a way that she loves. Needs. Wants. The magma of her under colours diffuse slowly into a smokey grey that leaks ever so slightly, but consistently to a soft sky blue.  “A few months....” She repeats, her accent clearly american. “When did you manage to London. Or. Wherever it was you landed?” The air of the words seemed dismissive, but the question was clear.

The afternoon is quiet. It's too early for the rush hour crowd, too late for the stay at home herd. Allegro moves with each step in time to the radio music that plays barely-audible overhead throughout the store, picking at and through various items in the fresh produce section

Giles is also going through the produce, examining things carefully for only the very best of what little he can find here. He inclines his head to Allegro in acknowledgement, then goes back to his shopping.

There’s an air about him of someone used to service, it’s in the way he holds himself, a formal and proper posture that doesn’t seem forced, and the way he keeps his feline eyes focused on his task with very little distraction. Although for all that there’s something welcoming, if incredibly reserved about him

The magma-like yellow flares slowly to a warm orange, with the blackened  edges peeling away to reveal more and more heat, less and less black. THe glassy dancer dips forward in a not-quite curtsey, certainly not so low as to be lower than the nod of their head- an easy achievement since the woman was well over six feet tall. Most men would have a hard time reaching her chin, much less her cheekbones. “You’re from this area?” She asked, either ignoring or thinking herself above pursuing formalities that might precede such a question. She must be quite full of herself to skip the pleasantries.- Then again, the way she carries herself likewise supports that idea.

The afternoon is quiet. It's too early for the rush hour crowd, too late for the stay at home herd. Allegro moves with each step in time to the radio music that plays barely-audible overhead throughout the store, picking at and through various items in the fresh produce section

Giles is also going through the produce, examining things carefully for only the very best of what little he can find here. He inclines his head to Allegro in acknowledgement, then goes back to his shopping.

There’s an air about him of someone used to service, it’s in the way he holds himself, a formal and proper posture that doesn’t seem forced, and the way he keeps his feline eyes focused on his task with very little distraction. Although for all that there’s something welcoming, if incredibly reserved about him