Odder and Odder Oddities (Yoshio/August)

[jarahamee]

As far as anyone could see, the shop seemed to open overnight in a previously deserted and vandalized part of the block. One day, the plastered paper and graffiti vanished, replaced by a cheery little shop, with a front of tinted vintage glass, lettered in delicate gold on the front ‘Obscura Oddities and Curio.” Whatever the shop owner had done seemed like a significant upgrade from the place that had been there before.

From the street, one could see a wide variety of vintage leatherbound novels, ancient-looking devices, stuffed and mounted heads, a vintage bicycle, a restored typewriter, and an ancient-looking phonograph in great condition. Beyond that, the inside of the shop appeared to be dimly lit, though if one looked through with great concentration, they could make out the outlines of a number of large shelves, and all manner of objects hanging from the walls and ceiling. Great bookshelves filled with thick and musty tomes, interspersed with golden platters, orbs and glowing baubles.

And unlike many shops, the shopkeeper did not appear to lurk about, watching for newcomers. In fact, the entire store seemed completely uninhabited, though clean. On the door the sign read “Open for Business.”

[indeath]

August had been exploring Wathais, he rarely got lost these days. He felt like he was finally settling in, he had a job and everything. Being a vampire honestly saved a lot of money, he had no need for food. He’d been looking to spoil himself, it was tradition for a first paycheck. It was hard finding shops still open at night and he hadn’t found anything yet of interest. He’d all but given up hope when he’d laid eyes on a shop lit with a dim light and odd scents. It even said it was open, a sign wouldn’t lie. It still surprised August when the door actually opened with a ding. The animal heads gave him a hit of nostalgia and the willies rolled into one. He decidedly went into the shop in the opposite direction, he could smell the death coming from them. His eyes fell on a vintage picture camera and an old movie poster. It was pretty obscure. He glanced around hoping someone was around. Otherwise he felt like a crook.

“Hello? Ya left ya sign up… Nice bric a’ brac ya got here.”

He waved nervously at the shadows. He would never steal but it still made him feel guilty to be in here alone.

[jarahamee]

The shop itself was deceptive in size; from the front it had appeared small, but within it seemed almost labyrinthine, opening up into various sections displaying shelves and shelves of old books, ornate-looking toys, outdated but beautiful devices, and furniture from eons past. The interior of the shop was gently lit with artfully chosen bulbs scattered amid the various decorum that hung from the ceiling, lending it a yellowish hue. While not claustrophobic, it certainly seemed like every inch of the available space was being utilized, and utilized very well in this case.

At a glance, the shop-keeper’s ancient desk appeared empty, adorned with a small automaton of two kittens on marionette strings. From where he stood, he could see the curtain behind the desk, likely leading to the storage portion of the store. If he chose to move to the rear of the building, an open door appeared to enter into a twilight hue courtyard-like space. Not exactly what one might expect from the outside. As soon as he might think the store was uninhabited, a voice picked up from around the side of the desk;

“The store is always open. Sometimes, I have to go to the back for a little while, but I am always here.”

The voice was deep and had a dramatic sort of flare, and should he glance to the register again, he would notice that the desk that had previously been quiet and empty now had a small figure behind it. A short, thin man wearing an antique-style suit leaned forward over the front, adjusting oval-shaped glasses as he examined some small items in a tray in front of him. The man himself was of indeterminable age, pale-skinned and dark-haired. He could have been a teenager, he could have been twenty, thirty, maybe even forty. Had he not spoken, one might not have been able to determine his gender either. The strange being then took the glasses off his face, and put them back in his front pocket.

“Ah, a new face. I’m Mr. Sano, the owner. It’s good to meet you. You look like you’re interested in the mounts, hm?”

The strange being stared dreamily over at the mounted antique heads, and they, for their part, stared back. Among the heads was a unicorn, a lioness, and a large, strange, wolf-like creature with its massive muzzle curled in a perpetual snarl. If they were fakes, they were amazingly life-like. The strange little man looked back at August, as if in invitation, and leaned back on his chair as he considered.

[indeath]

August’s eyes boggled at the array of items in the shop, he could feel the magic hanging in it’s alcoves. The twilight courtyard made him feel a little nervous, he could almost imagine the burning feel of the sun hitting his skin. The shop keeper definitely had an aura of other about him too, but August wasn’t familiar with whatever he was. August’s first thought was perhaps an elder vampire, it would certainly explain the shop being open. That made his eyebrow twitch slightly.

He glanced at the aforementioned mounts before looking quickly away, his skin crawling and he violently shook his head at the small man. Was there nothing people weren’t willing to kill and stuff?

“Pleasure ta meet ya Mister Sano! Oh errr nah… I really don’t like em to be honest. Don’t they give ya the darn willies? I am more interested in alive creatures! Or cameras an’ stuff. Do ya got any workin’ ones? Though I should get meself a bike or somethin’ sensible…”

His mouth ran slightly with his nerves, he couldn’t feel anything else around. He really hoped this wasn’t a trap and his progenitor would come popping out. He tried to hide his paranoia behind a large smile.

[jarahamee]

Mr. Sano slipped off the seat of what must have been a stool behind the counter, dropping onto the floor. He then placed his implements carefully on the counter, folded his arms behind his back, and wandered around the front desk. The dim light gleamed off his glasses, tinting his skin an unhealthy yellowish hue. The being’s dark eyes took on a faint reddish hue in the dim light. Perhaps August was not too far off in his vampire guess.

“Unfortunately, not much gives me the ‘willies’ these days, but I can understand that they might be disquieting.”

The slight man walked up to one of three bicycles hanging from hooks at the back of the shop. A beautiful mint-colored cruiser bike, an art deco streamliner in red, and a baby blue electric bike, restored with a vintage flare. He gestured towards the bicycles with a theatrical flare, bowing deeply.

“Now, this is the selection of bicycles we offer. I am happy to answer any questions about these machines. I assure that they are in working order. Every one of them has a special history, and each were carefully restored. Two are traditional, the other is electric.”

He then turned towards one of the shelves behind him, and made a second, more sweeping gesture at a number of analogue cameras hanging on hooks. Some appeared to be polaroid, others seemed to be ordinary film cameras. One looked like a true antique with a tripod. There were a number of vintage photographs in boxes next to them, and rolls of film.
‘And of course, there are cameras. You will have to tell me what you desire.”

[indeath]

August looked up at the bikes gleaming even in the dim light. He ran a hand through his hair out of habit. They looked far out of his price range and he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling from before. This fella didn’t quite strike him as harmless but maybe it was just the taxidermy still setting his nerves off. Still maybe the guy was just nervous himself or trying to fix himself after a bad history. Who was August to judge?

“Heh I don’t desire nothin’… Special history? Lawdy! Are they haunted or somethin’? They ain’t nicked right? For a camera? Ermm Just somethin’ I can do little films with ya know? I prefer em unhaunted if ya don’t mind. Though I do got a mate who deals with ghosts… “

August looked down at the slight man. It must be pretty lonely in this shop and August hadn’t seen it before. Guy probably needed some friendly locals. August hadn’t been in Wathais that long but this guy didn’t know that. He wasa kinda a local by now.

“So uh… ya had this shop long? Wathais can be pretty darn confusin’ ta start. It can get ya as confused as a fart in a fan factory!”

August smiled at the man hoping he wouldn’t take offense to the word ‘fart’.

[jarahamee]

Yoshio studied August’s face in a way that almost seemed to be looking through him. His large, dark eyes were just about inscrutable as he considered his answers, his slightly too-wide smile never fading. One could swear they saw the faint glint of too-sharp teeth within his pale mouth. He folded his hands behind his back, and moved to the much taller man’s side, settling there comfortably, as if he was speaking to a friend.

“I do not deal in anything stolen, only things that are wanted. These at the end should be suitable to shoot on, though if you are looking for film-quality cameras, well, I know some contacts.”

He exchanged a sly look with August, and leaned back at the hip. His expression remained infuriatingly inscrutable as before, though his lips moved into a thoughtful sort of pout as he glanced at the ceiling. His pale skin seemed even more waxen under the light of the shop.

“I just opened a week or two ago, business has been stable. There are many unfulfilled people in this city, trying to fulfill their needs, looking for things to fill the void in their souls. I suppose I might be one of them, though I have gotten used to being alone.”

For the first time, there was what might have been a touch of genuine emotion in the strange little man’s face. He almost seemed sad, though his eyes remained distant, at least for a moment. Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned his head right back to August, and gestured towards the bicycles.

“You are welcome to try any of these bikes if you’d like.”

[indeath]

August grinned back with genuine friendliness. His sharp canines glinting against the low light, extremely white. Even as a human he’d taken good care of his teeth. He was undecided on what he should buy or whether he should buy anything from this man. Still he knew what it was like to feel lonely. He put a cold hand on the man’s shoulder to offer some comfort.

“Ermm before ya get too excited… I ain’t got that much dough. I gotta keep some for rent n’ stuff. What kinda stories do the bikes have before I try em? I ain’t gonna die in 7 days right?”

August looked sheepish but moved towards the bikes. Maybe he could make a down payment at least. They looked out of his price range. He ran a finger over one the mint-colored one, there didn’t seem to be a single scratch. Though he resisted asking for something in the lower range in case Mr. Sano got offended.

“Well if ya lonely… I know it must be hard only openin’ at night. Bein’ a vampire is hard. I can be ya mate! As long as ya don’t eat people… I ain’t just sayin’ it to try an’ get mate rates though… I just like havin’ friends.”

He smiled again hoping Mr.Sano would see he wasn’t fibbing. Although he definitely wanted to find prettier lady friends eventually. This seemed a very blokey town all in all.

[jarahamee]

Yoshio tried not to laugh when August mentioned the eating people. While he could consume humans, or their souls, he usually chose to hoard or barter them. There was so much more than one could do with their power beyond simple consumption. No, he was no maneater, though he had other uses for human blood, he supposed. He considered how best to answer, shifting his weight towards the wall.

“I do not eat people, thankfully, so I think we may be able to be friends.”

He patted August’s hand delicately. There were not many people who were comfortable enough to touch him, and fewer that were happy to step into his space like this man was. It was endearing, really. Well, was there any downside to making friends? He tried to think of the last time he had made a friend, and could not recall anything. Friends… Existence was lonely enough without companionship. He… would like to have a friend.

He smiled, and for the first time, the smile seemed almost pleasant.

“You know, I don’t just deal in money.”

The devil’s words lingered on his lips, and his expression had a sly tilt to it. He waited for August to take the bait, but not too long. He didn’t want the vampire to think too ill of him, after all.

“I am willing to let the bike go, if you are willing to spend two hours a week here at the shop, for only six weeks. As for the camera, you may borrow it for that time period, and if you like it, you can spend another six weeks here with me. What do you say?”

[indeath]

August mouth flew open a little then closed. What kind of establishment was this? How did the guy expect to earn a living practically giving things away? Mr. Sano was too pure for this world. It was very touching. As much as August wanted to agree to these terms, friendship shouldn’t be something you pay for or with. No that wouldn’t be right.

“Lawdamimbo! That’s awfully nice of ya… How about a counter offer? I’ll come and hang out with ya once a week for nothin’. I’ll take the bike but instead I’ll err do like payments? An’ I’ll save up for the camera meself. Ya know ya way too generous Mr. Sano… Though if we’re gonna be mates I should call ya by your first name?”

He put out his hand in a friendly manner.

“What do ya say?”

[jarahamee]

Yoshio took his hand delicately, his slim fingers resting on top of August’s. His expression barely reflected his honest surprise at August’s response, but what had he expected of the man? The pale creature stared into the vampire’s eyes, as if trying to glean what he might desire, but found only the desire to be happy in the here and now, and having the comfort of a friend. What sort of person was this? He blinked, his expression distant for a long moment, and then looked up at August.

“I’ll make you a special deal then. You only need to pay half the total price of these items. You can call me Yoshio. Mr. Sano is also fine.”

His smile, faded as it was, appeared to be genuine, and he looked at August almost as if he saw through him. What a rare sort of person to offer his whole heart like this. It was almost worth selling at a loss. Proverbially, anyhow.

“You can take the items for now. I trust that I will see you again.”

Yoshio didn’t elaborate that if anyone ever skipped out on their bargains with him, he would know. Moreso, there was no escaping such deals. Wherever they went, he would haunt them incessantly until he was paid in full. The house, or, in this case, Yoshio, always won. At least, if he was aiming to win. Right now, he was not so sure.

“Now, you said you worked…in film, was it?”

[indeath]

“Bombaroo! It’s a deal! Ya can trust me alrighty. Ya just too kind. We’re gonna be such great pals! Like a pair of ol’ seagulls sharin’ chips.”

August grinned from ear to ear and enveloped the smaller man into a tight hug. This felt promising, every connection in this new city counted. There was so much to see in this small store, there was probably even something Ru might like. Yoshio must be very old to have accumulated so much. Though objects couldn’t keep Yoshio company or laugh at your jokes.

August’s eyes brightened dramatically at Yoshio’s interest in film.

“Well I did… uh before me ummm… thing happened, I was a film student. Even made a couple of films. Me current predicament made it a little hard. Gotta get back at it. What kinda films are ya into? Ya seem like the classics type but ya never know. Could be a rom-com aficionado hidin’ in there.”

[jarahamee]

Yoshio’s thin lips curled upwards as he tried to imagine seagulls sharing a bag of chips. Well, certainly the vampires’ enthusiasm and desire for friendship was genuine enough, and as hard as he could scrutinize him, Mr. Sano could not find any trace of deception. Beyond that, no motivation to be found, at least, no obvious one for him. Perhaps the lack of support for the young vampire had made him more trusting and friendly than his kind tended to be, but no matter.

Whatever the reason, he was here, now, and he was, perhaps, a friend.

August’s embrace however, was unexpected, and though Yoshio did not resist, he seemed tense in August’s arms for the brief moment he was held. When he was released, he appeared surprised, but not offended; his youthful face strangely expressionless as he looked up at August. He could not remember the last time anyone had hugged him. There was a pause, and then Yoshio smiled, as if an odd moment had not passed between the two of them.

“Ah, yes…that. I suppose… I enjoy a good drama…”

His smile broadened into a grin at his double-meaning. It gave his otherwise almost childish features an impish look. Now, August’s current state did present a conundrum, didn’t it? This man, he did have dreams, but how grand were they? Yoshio folded his arms behind his back, then looked down, half-frowning as he considered potential solutions. There were so many. He began to pace in the narrow space at the front of the store.

“Is movie-making something that you wish to do again? It must be, if you are looking for a film camera… Do you want to be a star, or a famous director?”

[indeath]

August was pleased that his hug hadn’t been completely rejected but he’d noticed the tensing. Maybe Yoshio just wasn’t used to it. He would get comfortable soon enough with August as his mate. Everyone needed a little human touch… or inhuman as the case might be. August was a little surprised to learn Yoshio liked dramas but it took all types. It was funny to imagine the small odd man hunched over a day-time drama.

He played with his new camera as he thought about his answer. It was in very good condition and everything seemed in top shape. It definitely needed some charging though. August wasn’t quite sure how he was going to explain both a camera and a new bike to Ru.


“Yeah, I reckon I will. Just gotta find a way to put it out sneakily on Youtube or somethin’. ..Director! Lawdamimbo! That’s what I was studyin’ before. I don’t need ta be famous for people to appreciate me art. Besides it wouldn’t be good for me current condition, I’m meant to be dead. Me Ma an’ pa would have a heart attack or just keel over. I don’t wanna hurt em… If ya wanna see some of me work it’s online. Check out ‘The vampyre’ and uh ‘Go’ in a search bar with me name, August Hayes. There’s a memorial page but ignore that… heh.”

August had checked it out only once but had instantly regretted it. All his friends faces were on there too, now dead dead except for Ru and a couple others lost to the wind. It was better not to dwell on it.

[jarahamee]

Yoshio’s half frown slipped into an almost expressionless mask as he moved back and forth in something resembling a soldier’s march. His hands remained behind his back as he considered. There were so many options that August had yet to understand. He was both immortal and could change his appearance if he so desired. His world was still so very small. But how to tell him without making him feel foolish? Now that was the real question.

The small man cocked his head to the side, and adjusted his glasses, moving them towards the light as if they needed cleaning, and then smiled, gesturing with theatrical, open arms at August.

“My friend, you can use a different name, and appearances are easy enough to change. There is no need to end your film career. Dare I say, more than a few fortunate men have had my help becoming stars.”

His grin became toothy, exposing too many pointed teeth for just about anyone’s comfort, and the devil’s gaze became distant. If nothing else, he rather resembled a satisfied cat, remembering the mice it had just eaten. Then, just as quickly, he glanced back at the vampire, and his smile faded into something tamer, more friendly.

“I think…if that is something that drives you, we can make it happen! And everyone will bear witness to your success!”

The incredible, unnatural energy he possessed returned. He threw his arms up into the air, gesturing widely as he stood before them. The movement almost appeared choreographed by its frantic energy, and the power of his motion. To Yoshio, there was nothing more true. And if there was something he was good at, as a Devil, it was making people successful.