It's Compromise.

[Black Knight]

He stood outside the door for a moment debating whether to enter or not. He could already see inside, the dusty, overflowing books, and the homeliness of the place. He'd heard mention of the place as a source of information and ever since then he'd been nearly driven insane with the intensity that seemed to pull him into coming to the back lot bookstore.

He could have just wandered the streets and observe people, he liked that idea even preferred it, but it was not convenient and went against the gut feeling. However he couldn't figure out why he needed to know and needed to know now, it went against his own nature. Against this against that. He sighed unsure once more; he knew he could wait, its what he'd always done, but not this time.

This driving force pushed and cajoled and lay ever beneath a cloud where he could not pull it up to examine it. Until as stated he was staring at and through the door of Counsel Books.

He seemed to slowly form a pout as his mind went in circles trying to decipher why he needed to know and what he would say. He felt stupid standing in front of the door using his reflection to practice, "Hello. My name is Vitaliny. I hear you were, let's say, the town gossiper. What would you know about unnatural beings?" Another aggravated sigh.

'That's to broad. Need something else.' While he thought he opened the door and walked in, aimlessly browsing the books and muttering under his breath, "Hello. I need some information... No. Hi. Can you tell me what kind of people live here? Definitely not." Only vaguely noting he'd stepped into the building.

He shook his head. Nothing was working. He picked a book and browsed through it, "The Qualities of Paper." He scrunched his nose and put it back in disgust. Nothing wrong with the book but it certainly wasn't going to help him in his indecisiveness.

He chewed on his lower lip as he continued to stare at a section of books gathering his courage, then with a change of his jaw set into determination he walked up to the counter and called out, "Hello? Anyone here?"

[Camille Desmoulins]

Jeun Kazin walked quickly down the street, clicking his nails (rather, claws) in a nervous pattern. This was not because he was particularly nervous. He wasn't. He had full faith in Zahrah. She might have been narcissistic, rude, and often times wholly unhelpful. But he got the sense that she would not fail him on this. If only if it was because he was terribly hard to take care of when he was having a fit. He was certain she did not enjoy her time spent keeping him from tearing apart the store or it's customers and would want him to have his statue back as much as he did.

He opened the door to his shop, wondering briefly who'd left it open. As it fell back halfway through being open due to a sudden bout of incorporeality he quickly slipped through before it shut behind him. Well, he realized, it had to have been him that left the door open. Obviously when planning out political assassination he did not think about locking up the shop or turning over the closed sign. Oh well. He still didn't really care if someone tried to rob the shop. The money he made selling books was nothing compared to his secondary business.

He loosened his tie and looked at the shop. It took him a moment to realize that there was someone in there. He stared at the man for a thoughtful moment, "I don't know you," he stated, vaulting himself over the counter and landing neatly in his chair. This was a statement he made because he knew most everyone in town. True, he'd not been as vigilant in his collection of information lately due to his... condition. However, it was still concerning that someone had come into town and he had not found out sooner.

He curled up and looked continued to look at the man with the same thoughtful expression, "What can I do for you?" he asked.

[Black Knight]

He'd been looking back behind the counter and was slowly becoming discouraged as no one came forth, but with a sigh he turned back to lean on the counter and examine the books, contemplating on whether he should leave or not.

The door opened and his head turned to look in the direction of the door, as it was blocked by books. He waited a moment and saw Jeun come towards him and stop. What he finally said though threw Vitaliny so far off balance he wasn't sure what to do.He knew that no one knew him, he'd been in the city for merely a day, but this man said it as if he was entitled to the right of knowing him before any one else.

As Jeun vaulted over the counter he realized this man was the store owner and any courage he might have had left him. His eyes widened slightly and he stuttered a moment.

"R-right, what you can do for me... Um..."

Mentally Vitaliny berated himself, 'smooth, real nice, way to sound intelligent.'

"Info! Yes, do you have any general info about the city of Shawl?"

That was safe enough. Gave away no real indication of what he was after, but should he get enough, it would answer it without him ever having to ask the question outright.

[Camille Desmoulins]

Jeun sighed and motioned vaguely toward the back-left of the store, "History books on Shawl are in the back corner over there," he said, picking up the day's half-finished cross-word puzzle and giving it an awkward look, then setting it on the counter and adjusting himself so he could fill it out. Normally, it would have rested in his lap. However, he didn't want to mess with trying to pick it up when it inevitably fell through him. He gave the bell on the counter a pointed look and then another look to the man that he didn't know.

Just because he was not in good health, he was not about to change his policies. This man would have to go through the same ordeal that everyone else went through if he wanted information. Bell, wait, riddle. It was the same for anyone who had not been personally invited by the sphinx himself.

So he settled down to wait and see if the man a.) figured out what he was doing, b.) was actually interested in the books or c.) gave up. He was rather hoping it was b or c. He was in no condition or mood to be dealing with customers. He stared blankly at the crossword puzzle, the words that usually came so easily to him eluding him. Even a three letter word for help. He knew he knew it, but he couldn't grab it.

He really hoped that Zahrah would be successful in her mission. His inability to participate in his favorite past time was the straw that broke the camel's back. He was starting to feel nervous about this.