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Post by Taya on May 5, 2007 19:22:17 GMT
"Most people say it started about a little over a century ago, with the destruction of New York and the fire monsters that began to plague the globe. Several people from around the world began to squash out these fire monsters. But the ones who help save, our very city and help rebuild it were few in numbers."
Jacqueline rolled her eyes with a laugh under her breath as she listened in on the owner of the small bookshop. Once again she had managed to entrance the young audience that sat before her as well as the their older counterparts. In this day an age of the 22nd century, you were hard pressed to find a storyteller as good as Genny Star. Or as Jacqueline knew her, Aunt Genny.
The old woman had raised Jacqueline since the day 10 years ago she had runaway from the New New York City orphanage. Now at 18, Jacqueline worked and helped Genny with the upkeep of her small little bookstore. But what really kept the customers coming in were Genny's tales of legend, myth , and fantastical stories of the past. It seemed even in this high paced world people still needed to that homey feeling Aunt Genny's bookshop, The Phoenix Rising, could give them. Even if the store name did put them off a little.
"But unlike the rest of the world they knew the Phoenix to be a good being. She protected those she knew and loved as well as those she had never even met from harm and the evils of the world. But the Phoenix was around long before the destruction of old New York. The Phoenix has always lived from life to life watching over and protecting and bringing balance to the world.
But the Phoenix has always been cursed. The Phoenix must always in the end sacrifice oneself for the greater good. There are some who say that the curse can be broken and others who merely accept it as a way of life. But the power is great and can consume a person in their lust for power.
People who would use the Phoenix for a purpose of evil soon found out the full power of the phoenix and were supposedly destroyed in a great flash of light. So beware my little darlings for evil and power are around us everyday, but we ourselves, until the Phoenix has returned once more, must make the choices to stand for what we believe is right and protect those we love. We must not be swayed by the thoughts of power and greed. Because it is up to us to be strong until a protector is worthy enough to emerge."
Jacqueline played with her deep red locks as the crowd dispersed and headed over to the counter where she was waiting to help them with their purchases. Her jade green eyes scanned the title to the book she had just been handed.
"Jackie, your Aunt as always is an inspiration." One of the customers commented to her. And Jackie silently agreed. The old woman was amazing. It broke her heart that she might be leaving her soon to persue her dream of archeology.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 5, 2007 22:30:09 GMT
James brushed his dark hair back through his fingers as he pushed open the door to the bookstore. As the bell jingled above him, he shuddered involuntarily and his right hand wrapped slightly tighter around the edge of his thick jacket. Righthandedness, although an anomoly in his family, was one of James's more preferable traits about himself. He ran his left hand through his ultra-fine, shaggy hair again, and looked quietly around the bookstore. Spotting Genny, he made his way silently through the crowd. Although 6ft tall, he was hard to notice, somewhat blending in with his wiry figure, brown suede coat, and jeans. Behind his wire-framed glasses, his amber eyes glinted slightly. He stopped, around a metre away from Genny.
"Ms. Star? I hate to intrude, but I would beg a word with you if you are somewhat unbusy." James's voice was very British, and he spoke in a wel-mannered, genteel fashion. A small smile graced his thin lips as he spoke to Genny.
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Post by Taya on May 5, 2007 22:39:15 GMT
Genny smiled at the man. That warm gently smile she gave everyone. Now one might think Genny to trusting, but she hadn't lived this long without always being prepared.
"Of course, I'll speak with you Mr. ..." Genny left the sentence open with an eyebrow raised waiting for the gentleman to fill in the blank.
Now Jackie was suspicious of the man talking to her precious aunt. She watched the two from the counter where she had a line and was unable to leave and interrupt any conversation. She just hoped they wouldn't leave her line of sight.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 5, 2007 22:45:53 GMT
"Staranise." He pronounced the word as "stuh - ran - iss", the sound running smoothly over his tongue. "I have an artefact you may be interested in, and... desire your assistance with a pressing issue," he said, hand tightening over the part of his jacket in his right hand.
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Post by Taya on May 5, 2007 22:58:47 GMT
Genny's face betrayed nothing as she heard the name. Her own current surname she had derived from the family the gentleman was claiming to be from.
"Well, Then Mr. Staranise. I'd be happy to help you. I have my office right this way." Genny said taking the led to a door in the back of the store. "You know your family has quite an interesting history." She said off hand. Genny's manner was always controlled though no one would know it living for several hundred years would do that to a person.
After opening the door, she let Star anise in first and then shut the door behind the two of them. Quietly and quickly, Genny casted a couple of enchantments on the door. a lock and silencer. Anything that happened in this room was going to stay in this room.
"please have a seat Mr. Staranise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie was really worried now but she couldn't leave the shop unattended. She would just have to wait until the store emptied and she was able to go listen in.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 5, 2007 23:14:45 GMT
"Call me James," said James as he pulled out several shabby looking books from under his coat, and placed them on the table. Practically falling to pieces and made with extremely archaic paper, the books looked like old diaries, beginning covered in scribbled drawings, through to some which looked like they'd been kept in a semi-pristine state.
"Those are the diaries of Kiara Star-Anise. That's as far back as I can trace my line. Her "mother" seems untraceable, as I don't know what, or indeed who, the hell I'm looking for. Jade Star-Anise seemed to be my best bet. And the Phoenix." he said, slumping in the chair, English accent still prominent.
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Post by Taya on May 5, 2007 23:23:32 GMT
Genny sighed and for the first time since she had spoken to the young man let her age and sadness show through. How to tell this young man the dark past of his line. She had feared that this might be the subject he wanted to discuss.
"Young man, are you sure this a path you want to go down? Sometimes the truth is something quite dark and ugly. Are prepared for what you might find?"
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Post by Mr Spock on May 5, 2007 23:29:22 GMT
"For this purpose, I'd walk through hell and back on a road of broken glass," he said bluntly, raising an eyebrow at Genny over his wiry glasses. "Whatever I find, of value or not, I am prepared to face. Love makes you do funny things."
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Post by Taya on May 5, 2007 23:47:37 GMT
Genny couldn't help but laugh. Love did make people do funny things. She could speak from experince.
"I'll tell you what I can. But I do not know everything. I do however have some text that may anwser more questions for you." Genny spoke. "What I know is that about the legacy of the Phoenix and the story of Jade-Staranise. As to the true mother of Kiara, I know nothing."
Genny wrote an address on a card and handed it to James.
"Tonight come to this address. I will have the text you seek and if you can cross the thresehold I will impart on you the story of the Phoenix." Genny said. Then she undid the enchantments on the door and held it open for him. "Oh and please do not discuss this converstation with anyone, including my young charge out there."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie heard the door to the office open and she watched it carefully.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 5, 2007 23:53:05 GMT
James smirked. "I understand, Ms. Star," he said, tucking the card into his inside pocket. He was aware of the fact he had left Kiara's diaries on the table, but knew they were in safe charge as he stepped out of the office and back into the now quietened bokostore. He cast a knowing smile to Jackie, before bowing his head to Genny and taking out of the shop without so much as a backglance.
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Post by Taya on May 6, 2007 0:06:05 GMT
Genny looked at the books on the table. She didn't dare touch them. When those dairies were written she didn't know. Using a wave of her hand, the books moved from the table to a shelf that had locked doors. Not even Jackie had been in those cabinets.
Jackie watched the man leave with a scowl on her face.
"Aunt Genny can you close up? I need to go out. I'll be back at the house later." Jackie said grabbing her coat. Genny nodded knowing what was about to happen. But she also knew that Jackie cared about her and that was the true reason. Jackie ran out the door after the young man.
"Hey you!" She shouted after him. Never one for subtly Jackie always got straight to the point.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 6, 2007 0:12:38 GMT
James stopped, raising his eyebrows as he turned around. "Yes?" he said, gazing at Jackie with a quizzical yet bemused look over his silver glasses frames.
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Post by Taya on May 6, 2007 1:05:58 GMT
"Who are you and what do you want with Aunt Genny?" Jackie insisted when she caught up the the man. She shivered a bit from the cool air of dusk falling over the city. Shrugging into her black knee-length coat, she watched the man and waited for his answer. Her brown suede boots that ended just below her knee tapped the pavement. The rest of her attire was a flowing muted leopard print skirt that barely reached the top of her boots and suggested at skin when standing a certain way which her lithe 5'7" figure pulled off nicely. Her top was long sleeve blue v neck blouse. To finish the look a thin silver chain with a heart charm on the end sat around her waist and the blouse creating a belt.
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Post by Mr Spock on May 6, 2007 9:42:19 GMT
James smiled neatly. "I intend no harm to your dear Aunt, but my business," he said, tapping his nose with his right forefinger, "is confidential."
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Post by Taya on May 6, 2007 17:09:17 GMT
"No? your just going to take advantage of trusting old woman? Cal that not harming her?" Jackie snapped. "She's a trusting woman and sees good in everyone. SO whatever scam you have going is not going to work because I'll be watching you." She stared him down and the two wavy red tendrils that framed her face danced the the wind that the vehicles on the street made as they passed the two. The rest of her long wavy hair was done up in a clip to keep out of her way while she worked.
Jackie didn't like this man. She didn't trust him and in general he just gave her the creeps. But she now she'd not let Aunt Genny alone with the guy if she could help it.
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