(no subject)

[manofbusiness]

Childermass planned ahead, as he always does, and it's a combination of that and luck that the door doesn't open onto Hurtfew Abbey.

Instead, it appears to be the storage room of a shop.

Comments

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae steps through the door. She can't help but be somewhat jealous of anyone who can determine when and where their door to Milliways appears. She has never had any control over it whatsoever, and it's all down to luck when or if it does show up.

"Well, some things are universal," Rae says, wryly, looking over the semi-organized clutter of the storage room. The way storage rooms are used doesn't change much, just the things kept in them. "Where is this?"

[manofbusiness]

"A grocer's", he tells her, "in the city of York. He allows me use of a little space here without question if I read the cards for him once a year or so."

[sunbaked_baker]

She smiles, with a faint chuckle. "A good price."

But she doesn't ask what he would want the space for.

"So it won't be an issue if he sees you coming out of the storage room with a foreign woman who wasn't there when you went in?"

[manofbusiness]

"He will wonder", Childermass allows. "But will not ask, and in a month or two, it will be all but forgotten."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Handy," she says, smiling. "I'm just used to our nosy crowd at the coffeehouse. They're interested in everyone's business, but their intentions are usually good."

It's part of what the coffeehouse is for, after all. Keeping in touch with everyone in the neighborhood, making sure everyone is okay, finding out what is going on that might affect you.

[manofbusiness]

Childermass smiles slightly.

"They are people you see at least every few days, I suppose? So would have a claim to call themselves your friends."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Our regulars come to the coffee house at least every few days, though closer to every day for some of them. I don't see as much of them as I used to. I'm usually in the back getting on with the baking."

"But... yeah, some of the regulars have become friends. I met my best friend at the coffeehouse, in fact, back when we were little. She and her parents still have Sunday lunch at the coffee house most weeks, though she now works at the local library."

[manofbusiness]

He listens, nodding, as they make their way out into the front of the shop.

"It would be hard not to stay connected to her and the others, that way."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Yeah," Rae says, fond of them despite the friendly, well-intentioned nosiness. She follows him through the shop, towards the front door. "I just worry about them getting too close, and possibly getting hurt or put in danger because of everything going on with me. I don't want that to happen."

[manofbusiness]

"It will always be a concern", he agrees. "But the only things that could be done about it are perhaps either impossible or undesirable."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Very true," Sunshine sighs slightly. Her expression turns wry, looking over the wares in the store as they pass. "Knowing some of them, they would take the danger as a challenge. Which... The city managers have long given up on our neighborhood, and Old Town may be poor, but its people have their pride. They've been there for ages, and fought to keep their neighborhood theirs when the city officials were trying to gentrify the area and kick them out. The officials eventually gave up. But the kind of danger I carry is not the kind of thing that can be fought by being resilient, close-knit and as stubborn as iron."

It's the kind of danger that gets people killed.

[manofbusiness]

"Many things can be fought that way", he agrees, "but not all." Though his expression doesn't change, no emotion showing on the surface, something stirs in his shadows. "Even those as stubborn as iron cannot stand against a sickness, for one."

[sunbaked_baker]

She nods quietly, watching his shadows out of the corner of her eye.

"Some things cannot be defended against," she murmurs. "Some things cannot be overcome."

('No one is safe from the Goddess. I didn't say this, but watch your back, Sunshine.')

"That doesn't make it any easier to accept, though," she says, as one who inherited a good deal of pride and stubbornness from her parents.

[manofbusiness]

It's a day or two later, in the evening, that Childermass sends a note to the inn to tell Rae of the appointed date and time: the next day, early in the morning.

At 6am, he is outside, waiting.

[sunbaked_baker]

One of the good things about keeping baker's hours is that early mornings are par for the course. Rae steps out from the inn's warmth and into the frosty darkness of a Yorkshire winter morning as a bell tower somewhere tolls six. Thankfully, the Bar knew better than Rae about what sort of winter clothes would be appropriate. Rae is appreciative of the fitted wool coat, shawl, and gloves, even if the fashion feels strange to her.

"Good morning," she says, smiling at the familiar dark figure. "It's the moment of truth, then."

[manofbusiness]

The returning smile is slight and crooked - as usual - but not insincere.

"That it is. And while Mr Norrell saw fit to reveal his plans to me, I would hate to spoil the surprise."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Boooo," Rae says, chuckling. "Nah, I prefer it to be a surprise."

The few days of exposure to true sunlight, even under winter's grey blanket of clouds, have done wonders for her mood.

"But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what Mr. Norrell does. It's surprisingly rare to get to see any magic done, even in as magical a place as Milliways. It's interesting to see the differences, depending on how magic works in a particular handler's world."

And she is always looking for more ways to learn.

[manofbusiness]

Childermass nods.

"And this will be the first piece of magic done publicly in centuries. It ought to stir things up good and proper."

[sunbaked_baker]

"I'm sure it'll be something spectacular," she agrees, still grinning as she walks with him along the darkened, snow-quiet street. Magic has to have that edge of spectacle, of wonder to it. "How do you think the Society will take having their foundations shaken?"

"They might not want word getting out, if it makes them look bad."

[manofbusiness]

""Not well." His smile turns wry, aware she isn't going to like what he says next. "But they have signed a contract stating that once Mr Norrell has proved himself, they will give up all claim to call themselves magicians. All save one, who would not."

[sunbaked_baker]

"Ouch," she winces, hissing slightly between her teeth. "Hitting 'em where it hurts, I see."

[manofbusiness]

"He has been seeking a means to do away with the Society for some few years, and here it presented itself. Most of those who signed, I believe, did so with the thought in mind that he would not, in the end, prove himself."

Poor, foolish Society gentlemen. A cat darts out into the street from a nearby house and Childermass smoothly sidesteps it.

[sunbaked_baker]

"It'll be something of a rude awakening for them, then," she says, smiling as a thought crosses her mind. "Though it'd be more of a sign of hope for the one who didn't sign."

[manofbusiness]

Childermass nods.

"And that one is more dedicated to magic than most of his colleagues. You know him already."

[sunbaked_baker]

Sunshine's smile grows a little. "I do. We met in Milliways and spoke of England's magic. He was very enthusiastic about it."

Rae had made sure never to mention John Segundus by name to Childermass after realizing they came from the same world, in case they had not met yet despite their shared connection to Mr. Norrell and interest in magic.

"And still a bit irritated about Mr. Norrell and the books, to be honest."