Sleep, Sleep [Open]

Nen had opted for a rainy day. The sound of the constant rain falling against the roof brings a smile of content to her lips. Of course, there were people whose plans were ruined because of the sudden rain. Not that Nen cared too much. It's a sleeping sort of day. And nothing could get in her way of fitful rest. Besides, people weren't likely to stop by in the rain--right?

..........Right?

Ding! The door opened as Nen's eyes closed.

After much deliberation, Caine found himself absentmindedly walking through the door of Nen's Crystals. His eyes glazed over in far off thought. This would be his second year teaching at Beata Academy. Experience as a teacher was interesting. It gave him something to do, and excuse to teach physical fighting skills, and to tap into the beast often forgotten during the other facets of his life. Something was different this year, though, his own daughter would be attending the university. To say that it made him feel old was an understatement. Personal experiences of student life somehow managed to seem like a dream and yesterdays occurrence all at once. Given it had been his late wife's own gift that took her, Mr. Mallon had been hesitant in sending Ande to learn her own powers. Thankfully it was at least similar to his that she had been gifted with.

He let out a weary sign. Handsome features were creased with exhaustion. It took a moment before his eyes drifted upwards to fall on the shop keep. The man pulled at the cuffs of his crisp, white button, down and almost reached to straighten a tie that wasn't there. Upon this realization, his palms glanced over the surface of his pressed black slacks instead. He found himself woefully unprepared to ask for assistance. Despite the fatigue and lack of coherence, he presented a collected exterior that had been practiced over the years. Caine cleared his through, addressing Nen, "Excuse me, miss, I need help finding something."

A very large sigh escaped the woman as she sat up. Her tired half lidded eyes stared back at Caine seemingly unimpressed. ”Don’t we all?” She muttered in response. There was another pause and she relented. ”What are you looking for?”

He found himself a bit taken aback by the woman's casual behavior. At first, he considered being annoyed, but given his own weary state, was contented to say nothing. Besides, she was asking him what he was looking for. Caine's jaw tightened as he realized he wasn't even sure. Admittedly, the man had no clue what his daughter liked. Crystals were pretty, right? Girls liked pretty things. Years ago he remembered how his wife had always marveled at the intricately beautiful. She'd never been easily amused but rather more attuned with the finer details than he was. Shaking his head slightly to dispel the thoughts of his wife, he muttered, "It's for my daughter. She's starting school and I'd like to get her something... useful."

The words sounded awkward, misplaced. It agitated him to no end to sound so pathetic. In his years since attending Beata, finding love and raising a daughter had pushed some of his more pleasing traits to the front. It was for this reason he studied her face for a moment longer, caught the half-lidded expression and added, "Do you need some coffee or something? You look as tired as I feel right now." He offered her the hints of a smile from the side of his mouth, suggestion he had some humor in him after all.

Nen gave a yawn and rested her hand on her palm. She raised a brow and sported an amused look. ”Coffee never works on me, sorry to say. But...You want something...useful from a crystal shop.” Nen managed a laugh, and leaned back in her chair. ”Sure, does she believe in dream catchers? Cleansing selenite? Magical crystals? Or would you like to get her a pen with an amethyst as the tip?”

The bell rang as the door opened for a second customer to arrive out of the rain. Giles' hair was drenched and his raincoat was dripping slightly as he wiped his shoes off on the mat by the door. "Ah, Caine! I wasn't expecting to see you here. And it's always a pleasure, Nen." he said with a bright smile. He frequented this shop in his few years teaching at the academy. He loved collecting and looking at all the crystals that Nen would stock. Caine, however, wasn't someone he thought would be interested in them. But then again, they hardly knew each other more than the small talk they shared in the teacher's lounge and when Giles would come "help out" with Caine's combat classes.

As she leaned forward, his eyes followed. Caine managed his own soft laugh. At her remark about use, the man ran his fingers through his still wet hair, "Yeah, I prefer to know I'm buying something that will do her some good. But I think she just likes... things. Honestly, I'm not really sure." There came another low sigh as he lowered his hand and shrugged his shoulders. The soft chime of the bell caught his attention but he made no move to turn. That was until a familiar voice piped up. Ah, Giles, a fellow teacher. The English teacher didn't seem like a half-bad person and they had politely exchanged words on occasion but there was a breezy lightness to his demeanor that had always bothered Caine. How people could present as so easily pleasant was a mystery to him. It appeared that Hawkesworth had already built an acquaintance with this Nen, which wasn't surprising.

"I'm here for Ande. She's finally starting school. But I'm lost as a first year in one of your classes. Any ideas?" He halfheartedly shot Giles an inquisitive look. If they were simply exchanging pleasantries, he'd learned to play along. Besides, between the sleepy store owner and another teacher, perhaps he could make it out of here all the sooner.

Nen welcomed Giles in with a sluggish upward nod of her head. "Well, if she is starting classes..." The tired woman stood up from her spot behind the counter and gave a large stretch, not bothering to hide a very large yawn. Throwing a fluffy looking blanket over her shoulders, Nen strolled out from behind the counter, and across the store, beckoning Caine and Giles to walk with. She leads them around the store, pointing out random polished crystals occasionally, throwing out random information about them.

From what Nen has told Giles about them, it seems to be wildly inconsistent in regards to the metaphysical side. The one pink quartz she had pointed out last time he was here, Nen claimed it was for love. However, as she pointed it out this time, she claimed it was for stress relief. You could say claim, but as the explanations continued, it becomes obvious she doesn't believe a word of what she was saying.

"You know what?" She paused in the middle of the store. "Giles, if you know this man, then I have something for him." Nen gave them both a wink and added "Both of you stay here. I'll be right back." She then walked past the dark curtains hiding the back room, out of sight.

Giles followed Nen and Caine to look at various crystals, some with magical properties (supposedly) and some without. He knew that Nen didn't actually believe in the healing properties of crystals but it was still funny to listen to her rattle on about it very unenthusiastically. "Nen's the real expert here, she'll find something. If nothing else, a dream catcher is always a solid choice." he said as Nen walked to the back to grab whatever it was that she had thought of.

He watched the shop owner sleepily rise from her position behind the counter and wasn't too surprised to see her throw on a blanket. For what he had witnessed in the past few moments, it actually made the most sense. Caine wandered after Nen, alongside Giles and halfheartedly listened to the information she presented. The various stones glistened as they passed by. Some seemed to refracted light and others seemed as dull as any old stone. They stopped and he came to an abrupt halt alongside the other teacher. At the notion that she had something for him, Caine wore a quizzical look and glanced towards Hawkesworth. He shrugged at the other's mans suggestion, "I'll take your word for it. We'll see what she has in store first. Any ideas?"

In the distance, boxes being cut open could be heard. A crash, followed by a laugh. The silence. For a minute, two, three. Before Nen strode out of the backroom with what seemed to be a glasses case in her hands. She approached the two, and stood next to them. Smiling, she opened the case and began. ”So, these may look old school, but it’s the fashion these days.” Nen held up the round lenses to the two to look at. ”These should help her focus on school work, and especially tests.” Quite differently, Nen seemed certain that what she was saying was true. ”Sixty bucks. Unless you can convince me otherwise.” Then fixed them both with an amused smirk.

Giles took a brief look before letting out a hearty chuckle. "I've heard these are all the rage nowadays." he said in agreement with the shopkeeper. "Maybe a little on the nose, but it would definitely work." He nudged the fellow teacher with a laugh. "Maybe stick to a dreamcatcher?"

OOC: Nen out here asking for a persuasion check lmaoo

Out of the many things offered in the shop, Caine hardly expected Nen to return with what looked like an ordinary pair of glasses. He stared down at them for a moment before blinking slowly. Nen expressed that not only were they functional, but would also help with school work. Giles nudged him and his gaze finally snapped upwards. Hearing the soft laughter, he managed a flicker of a smile. Once again the man shrugged before digging around in his pocket, "You're the expert, Nen. Glasses for Ande it is. Maybe a dream catcher as well just in case." From a hardly worn leather wallet, he plucked a debit card and handed it over. At least this was taken care of. Later on, he could meet with his daughter and pass it along.

Nen nodded, satisfied with herself, and lead them back to the counter where she ran the card. Sitting back down she made herself comfortable and pulled the receipt from the till. Sliding it over to him to sign, she pointed at the section of the wall covered in dreamcatchers. "Take your pick." She sat back in her chair and pulled out a clipboard to take a note or two before sliding it back under the counter. "What sort of trouble are you getting into today, Giles?"

Giles nodded as Caine completed his purchase. "Oh, you know, the usual. I was buying some supplies for my classroom and saw that your shop was, well, it was here. So I thought I'd stop in." He explained. "I don't think my wife would be happy if I spent more money on crystals." Giles chuckles. He turns to his colleague. "I'm sure your daughter will love these. I know my son enjoys his gifts from this shop."

Picking out a dream catcher didn't take long at all, on the account he hardly took time deciding. His eyes lead him to one that possessed the most intricate and bright colors. For a moment, Caine stared down at the two items in his hands. Both were a reminder of the fact of the two gray hairs he had found protruding from the thick black mane on top of his head. It made him consider how much larger and emptier the hallways would be at home. A frown settled itself into the creases of mouth. If it weren't for his own position at the school, something to busy himself enough to forget how lonely life was. The man had never been much for friends. Giles' presence was emphasized how often he distanced himself from others. Even Oleander.

He turned, gaze snapping back up as he caught the end of words, and offered a nod in return. Caine offered a low utterance of farewell, "Thanks, Nen. I'll see you around, Hawkesworth." His right hand, still clutching to his items, raised slightly in a dismissive parting. The other hand pulled at the door revealing the light showers of rain. He stared for a moment before slightly softly to himself, and heading out into the dreary day.

"Later." She called back, finding time for herself to kick her feet up. "That guy okay, or what?" Nen asked as soon as the door closed, seemingly satisfied with herself. "Also, he doesn't call you by your first name. Are you just acquaintances?"

Giles shrugged. "He's pretty new to teaching at the academy, so you could say we're acquaintances, yeah." he said after a moment's thought. He stood up straight after having to bend down to see what Nen had shown the pair of teachers. "Part of it comes from that, but I think he's just a little antisocial. He hasn't seemed like the type to be buddy-buddy with coworkers in the time that I've known him. If you can believe it, I'm usually down in the gymnasium during my free periods to watch his classes and help out where I'm needed, so this is the warmest he's treated me."