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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.
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witch_perfect
unmarred
So he follows her home and keeps an eye out for things to guard against.
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?"
witch_perfect
Alli grabs a book next to her. This one is much more reasonable looking, being entitled An Introduction to Magical Concoctions. She holds it out to him. "Page 34. Want help or want to just go for it?"
witch_perfect
Alli starts extracting things from her bag. Cutting board, knife, mortar and pestle, various other ingredient prep items. The portable ones, anyway. If she'd had a portable cauldron she wouldn't have bothered telling him to find one.
"First thing: you don't want to get halfway through a potion and realize there's shit you forgot to chop. Prep time!"
The ingredients for a Refill Me are obscure and somewhat expensive but there's not too many of them. Prep will not take very long. Particularly for those possessing extra strength and speed.
"First thing: you don't want to get halfway through a potion and realize there's shit you forgot to chop. Prep time!"
The ingredients for a Refill Me are obscure and somewhat expensive but there's not too many of them. Prep will not take very long. Particularly for those possessing extra strength and speed.
unmarred
Prep time turns out to be very relaxing. Or at least Mark finds it thus.
witch_perfect
Alli has her book to amuse herself while she waits. When he should, by Alli's calculation, be almost done, she drapes herself over his back to peer over his shoulder. "Almost ready?"
witch_perfect
"Wicked. Potion time!"
It's not very complicated, and Mark's very detail oriented. Mostly she just winds up reading the recipe while Mark follows the directions perfectly.
Once he's done mixing, she leans over his shoulder and sniffs it experimentally. "Smells right, anyway." She turns up the heat on the hot plate. "Twenty minutes to go. So... small talk? Shit like that, I guess. How was your day, orrr I guess actually your night?"
It's not very complicated, and Mark's very detail oriented. Mostly she just winds up reading the recipe while Mark follows the directions perfectly.
Once he's done mixing, she leans over his shoulder and sniffs it experimentally. "Smells right, anyway." She turns up the heat on the hot plate. "Twenty minutes to go. So... small talk? Shit like that, I guess. How was your day, orrr I guess actually your night?"
witch_perfect
"My night was spectacular. I was asleep, it was great. My day... also pretty dull. Who gives a shit about school when you could do magic? Like, really. Potions vs. geometry? Not even a contest."
witch_perfect
"Methods of payment include magical glitter, potions and hugs. Take your pick."
witch_perfect
'Leaning over Mark's shoulder from behind' promptly turns into 'hugging Mark from behind'. "I suppose I could be convinced. Maaaaybe."
Hug complete, she returns to her chair, and rearranges it so she's actually facing him instead of just hovering over him and the cauldron. "Want me to check out any books for you, as long as I'm here and have useful shit like a library card? I mean. A little bird told me nights get dull here."
Hug complete, she returns to her chair, and rearranges it so she's actually facing him instead of just hovering over him and the cauldron. "Want me to check out any books for you, as long as I'm here and have useful shit like a library card? I mean. A little bird told me nights get dull here."
witch_perfect
"Depends on the kind of shit you like. I find things, but they're mostly weepy poetry and trashy romance novels. Do you want to learn How to Marry a Marquis?"
witch_perfect
"Well, according to Julia Quinn, you go work for his godmother, who decides to be a busybody and throws you at each other. It seems to involve a lot of fluttering around indignantly and throwing things, though."