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Alli finds the whole concept of Black Friday sale at the magic store deeply, hilariously absurd for reasons she hasn't bothered to pin down. Probably something about black cats? Whatever, she gets to snicker about it. So she puts off shopping for some of her more infrequently used (or expensive) supplies until Black Friday rolls around, and then she heads to the Magic Box.
Tragically, she seems to not be the only person with this idea. It's a stretch and then some to say the Magic Box is ever crowded, but anyone in Sunnydale who wants to try out some random fortune telling trick or learn crystal healing seems to be lolling around inside the store. And the one poor panicked employee who actually showed up today is completely overwhelmed. Alli growls, makes a note of their extended hours, and resolves to come back later.
A few hours later, she's back and digging through potions ingredients. It's a little after sunset but she's resolved not to stress about it too much; Bella scratched crosses all over this place eons ago, she's got the Swans on speed dial and there's a holy water gun in her purse. (Admittedly it's in a plastic bag, because one water leak all over her purse was quite enough thank you, but it's there!)
And really, you can't beat discounts like this. Why pay more for potion supplies than you have to? Witching is, as Alli is discovering, not the cheapest hobby she could have taken up.
witch_perfect
witch_perfect
Well, no other wars are worth having.
Eventually Alli collapses on the sidewalk, giggling hysterically. "That was wicked," she beams. "Glitter for everyone-" and she's laughing again.
Eventually Alli collapses on the sidewalk, giggling hysterically. "That was wicked," she beams. "Glitter for everyone-" and she's laughing again.
unmarred
"I think that might be my favourite magic spell," he says, grinning down at her. "I think that might keep being my favourite magic spell even once I actually know any other ones."
witch_perfect
"If there are better ones, I have not found them," Alli agrees happily. She climbs back to her feet and dusts herself off. "I'd say sorry about the delay but- nope. I refuse to apologize."
unmarred
"Not exactly," he says. "I did cover an intelligence agent's hotel bed in neat rows of dried beans once, which was almost as much fun but lacked the feeling of gleeful abandon."
witch_perfect
Alli cracks up. Once she recovers, she asks, "So are you a spy too? Or do you just hang out with them and en-bean their rooms?"
witch_perfect
"I'm sensing a theme here," Alli remarks with a grin. "Long story optional, but like. He wasn't spying because you are a morally bankrupt genocidal maniac or anything, right?"
unmarred
"I wouldn't describe myself that way. If you must know, I'm a clone created for a substitution plot against the son of a prominent political figure on the planet Barrayar. Barrayaran Imperial Security likes to keep tabs on me in case I decide to come round and confuse them all with my stunningly accurate Miles impression - Miles being the target of the plot. Miles himself took one look at me and declared me his brother; I quite like him and have no intention of stealing his identity."
witch_perfect
"I do not must know! I said so and everything! But it's interesting anyway," Alli laughs. "And your- brother? Clone relationships, not a thing here, I will totally believe you- probably appreciates that you do not want to steal his life, so, there's that going for you?"
unmarred
"He definitely does appreciate it. He also likes my sense of humour, which is an attitude I treasure for its rarity."
witch_perfect
"Awwwww. I don't have a brother, but I have a big sister," Alli says. "We get along okay? She's the one who left me those books, so points to her for that at least."
witch_perfect
"...Sorry," Alli says awkwardly, noticing the face. "I know he's really far away. I'll keep a lookout for transport spells? You probably miss him." She pauses. "I also appreciate your sense of humor, if it helps," she offers. "I mean... glitter!"
witch_perfect
"I know, don't I? Also modesty. I'm super modest," Alli deadpans. "Oh hey, we're here!"
She walks past the car in the driveway- "Yup, Mom's home!"- and in through the door. She bounds through too quickly to hold it behind her for him, but with the inner door open it's just a rickety screen door bouncing in its frame anyway. "Potion stuff's upstairs," she tells him over her shoulder.
She walks past the car in the driveway- "Yup, Mom's home!"- and in through the door. She bounds through too quickly to hold it behind her for him, but with the inner door open it's just a rickety screen door bouncing in its frame anyway. "Potion stuff's upstairs," she tells him over her shoulder.
unmarred
Mark follows—
—as far as the threshold.
"The hell?" he says, rubbing his forehead with one hand and prodding empty air with the other.
—as far as the threshold.
"The hell?" he says, rubbing his forehead with one hand and prodding empty air with the other.
witch_perfect
Alli looks back at him in shock, then fumbles for her water gun. Her mom...? Her mom seems to be upstairs, watching TV from the sound of it. So, no yelling and attracting her attention, otherwise not an immediate concern.
"That," she says, attempting for a conversational tone but with fear leaking through, "would be my doorway. Through which uninvited vampires cannot enter. How many 'long stories' did you say you had...?"
"That," she says, attempting for a conversational tone but with fear leaking through, "would be my doorway. Through which uninvited vampires cannot enter. How many 'long stories' did you say you had...?"
unmarred
"That... is one of them, yes," he says. "Or, well, an extension of a previous one. The cult leader who invited me to be his immortal lover was a vampire, and he got as far as turning me before I killed him. I left that part out because, well, I can see where the reputation came from. I wouldn't hang out with most vampires I've met either. They all eat people, for one thing, and while I'm not much for judging someone else's moral choices I do mostly draw the line at pointless murder."
witch_perfect
Alli manages to retrieve her water gun, but delays digging for the phone to call Bella at this bizarre statement. "But... that's how vampires work," she says blankly. "Become vampire, become asshole, kill things until killed."