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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
"It doesn't duplicate magic or I'd use it on all my potions ever," Alli snorts. "Not more than you started with, only up to a certain size glass, probably some other shit." She blinks at him innocently. "Obviously it never gets used on alcohol. That would be wrong."
witch_perfect
"Not a clue," Alli says brightly. (Self introspection is not one of her virtues.) "But it is!"
Nose boop.
Nose boop.
witch_perfect
Alli responds in kind. Once able to talk again, she asks, "Did you want to learn the Refill potion? If you'll get the ingredients."
witch_perfect
"It is! Magic's great."
Alli inspects her pockets for a writing implement, but turns up nothing except for a couple pieces of gum. Grumbling, she begs one off the cashier instead and returns to the table to scribble out a list on the back of her milkshake receipt. Once she finishes, she regards it critically for a second, shrugs philosophically and offers it to Mark. "Ingredients list. If you show up with those tomorrow, I'll walk you through the potion." She considers location options. "At the library, maybe? I bet we could hide a cauldron in the study room. Oh-" She adds hot plate to his receipt list underneath cauldron, 5" wide, larger ones come later!!. "Does that work? What time can you, ahem, safely get there?"
Alli inspects her pockets for a writing implement, but turns up nothing except for a couple pieces of gum. Grumbling, she begs one off the cashier instead and returns to the table to scribble out a list on the back of her milkshake receipt. Once she finishes, she regards it critically for a second, shrugs philosophically and offers it to Mark. "Ingredients list. If you show up with those tomorrow, I'll walk you through the potion." She considers location options. "At the library, maybe? I bet we could hide a cauldron in the study room. Oh-" She adds hot plate to his receipt list underneath cauldron, 5" wide, larger ones come later!!. "Does that work? What time can you, ahem, safely get there?"
unmarred
"Six-thirty? If you're all right being out past sundown repeatedly. If you're not I can try to get creative."
witch_perfect
"Meh, I normally don't care much, but- vamp dude. Trade you an escort home for the lessons?"
witch_perfect
"Wicked. Six thirty tomorrow it is." She hops out of the booth again and looks at Mark expectantly. "Escort away!"
witch_perfect
The only thing Mark is called upon to guard against on the way home is glitter. And despite the restorative powers of milkshakes, Alli is tired enough that even these 'attacks' are mostly for the Principle of the Glitter.
The next day she gets to the library just before sundown. She books a study room for them, carefully choosing the one far to the back and somewhat concealed behind two shelves. When she mentions to the girl at the desk that her chemistry buddy (hah) will be joining her later and to send him along, she gets a wink and a smirk. Alli rolls her eyes internally, but for the sake of not being 'checked up on', she just smiles and looks innocent and pretends oblivious confusion.
When the appointed time arrives, she is happily ensconced in their study room. She's made a haphazard circle of chairs and her backpack in a corner near an outlet to help hide the cauldron, but further arrangement is awaiting her student. She is occupied with a book, and though she presumably has homework, this book is pretty obviously nothing of the sort; the woman on the cover, about half-dressed in a fancy old-fashioned sort of gown, is busy fainting into the arms of a strapping and entirely shirtless gentleman, and Alli seems to find the whole thing hilarious.
The next day she gets to the library just before sundown. She books a study room for them, carefully choosing the one far to the back and somewhat concealed behind two shelves. When she mentions to the girl at the desk that her chemistry buddy (hah) will be joining her later and to send him along, she gets a wink and a smirk. Alli rolls her eyes internally, but for the sake of not being 'checked up on', she just smiles and looks innocent and pretends oblivious confusion.
When the appointed time arrives, she is happily ensconced in their study room. She's made a haphazard circle of chairs and her backpack in a corner near an outlet to help hide the cauldron, but further arrangement is awaiting her student. She is occupied with a book, and though she presumably has homework, this book is pretty obviously nothing of the sort; the woman on the cover, about half-dressed in a fancy old-fashioned sort of gown, is busy fainting into the arms of a strapping and entirely shirtless gentleman, and Alli seems to find the whole thing hilarious.
witch_perfect
Alli looks up over her book. "Ooooh, it's my favorite murderpire!" Down the book goes, face down and open to her spot. "You get everything okay? Ready for really awesome magical shit?"