♕ |[ 89 ]| The book has already lived through its troubles

[had_not_lived]

I was going to ask this yesterday, but I thought I'd better wait until people were back to normal-- not that I'd have minded dealing with bears and cats and whatever else, it just seemed too complicated, making arrangements mid-curse.

I work at-- I should say, I run, a small used book-store. Billy used to run it with me, but since he went home it's just been me and Todd. It's always been a bit much with just two of us, but now-- well, it seems like the perfect time to look for some help.

So, if anyone's looking for a job, and would be interested-- Bilton and Scaggs is hiring.

I've been thinking, too... as if the store's not enough... I know we've never had trouble finding a place to rehearse or hold performances, but maybe we could start a proper theater for the City Players? I mean, not just somewhere to hold the plays, but a space for storing all the props and costumes and set pieces, too.

What do you think? Is it worth putting it together?

Comments

[born_nameless]

If you can get the space, I think it's worth trying.

[had_not_lived]

Well, I have a space in mind-- that shouldn't be a problem. But I'm sure there'd be a lot of work to do, to get it in order, which we'd need help with.

[born_nameless]

What exactly needs to be done?

[had_not_lived]

To tell the truth, I haven't looked around. Carrying anything that's left in the Opera House, of course, and trying to gather up any of the old costumes that're still around-- mostly, people took them home after the other plays, I think. And we'll have to see if there's a big enough space set up already.

[born_nameless]

I can carry stuff, at least.

[had_not_lived]

Great! I'll let you know, then, when we've got it figured out and we're ready to start moving everything.

[mumbled_truth]

Well. I'm not sure what else we'd do with all the space...

[had_not_lived]

We could move, I guess, but... I don't really want to. I like our apartment.

[mumbled_truth]

We could, but... I don't want to, either. The apartment is home.

[had_not_lived]

And having space to keep things-- well, maybe at first it wouldn't make much difference, but the more plays we do, I bet, the more we'll be able to reuse.

[mumbled_truth]

Or if we just find things that we think we'd be able to use, we can always put them aside.

[had_not_lived]

Exactly! It's just a matter of-- will we have enough people interested, enough who want to stay with it?

[mumbled_truth]

With you manipulating-- I mean, encouraging them? I'm sure we'll manage.

[had_not_lived]

I guess I do have that reputation to uphold.

[mumbled_truth]

It shouldn't be too hard. You did earn it.

[had_not_lived]

I did.

[othersdie]

I've been meaning to spend more time at the book store...

Do you have a site in mind for a potential theater? The financial means to start something like that up?

[had_not_lived]

If you want a shift, you've got it. But I figured you'd be too busy...

Well-- the money, I'm not sure; I don't know how much work we'd need done, but the space... that, we have. From Billy.

[othersdie]

I don't know. I might quit.

[The police force, specifically, although just quitting in a broad, general sense has its appeal.]

Sorry he left.

[had_not_lived]

Really? Well... if you do, if you decide to, you're more than welcome to it. I know you'd do a better job of keeping the shelves in order than I can.

[He's always thought Justin dealt surprisingly well with the stresses of working for the police, so it's a surprise; but Neil's the last person to tell anyone to keep a job they're not happy in.]

It's... well, I'm just glad he's got Teddy and Tommy with him.

[othersdie]

You'd want to fire me within a week.

[This is a lie, although Neil might not take well to having the entire store reorganized and sorted by genre (and, of course, alphabetized within genres). Quitting the police force, however, isn't a lie so much as wishful thinking.]

That's something.

[paaause] If you would need financial help, for a theater...

[had_not_lived]

I doubt that.

[These days it's not too bad-- the old angel would be appalled at how easy it is to find things now-- but there's a perpetual stack of things to be returned to their proper places, and sometimes he's too distracted to do more than find the right general area.]

Maybe-- before we worry about it, maybe you and me and Todd could go have a look at the building, and see what needs to be done?

[othersdie]

I wouldn't mind. When?

[had_not_lived]

Whenever you've got a chance, I guess. We'll just close up the shop a while, or we could go over in the evening.

[othersdie]

Any time works.

Where is this building?

[had_not_lived]

...Actually, it's the Palace. Someone left it to Billy, and Billy left it to us.

[othersdie]

That's a lot of space. I mean, I assume it is--I've never been inside. Has it been used recently? Do you think it'll need repairs?

[had_not_lived]

I have no idea, really. Of course we don't need to use the whole thing, but I figured-- there must be a room big enough, if there isn't already one with a stage there. That's part of what I want to look at, the state it's in.

[othersdie]

Okay.

Having a permanent theater venue and storage would be helpful.

[had_not_lived]

That's what I thought. And-- well, I don't know what else we'd do with it.

[othersdie]

You could expand the bookstore.

[Joking. Really.]

It would be good for you... having a theater. And for the City. People need distractions, and you seem--you seem happier when you're busy with a show.

[had_not_lived]

I am, I think-- that's what I want to do, what I really want, is to act. I love the bookstore, and everything else I do here, but... If I had to pick one thing to do for the rest of my life, well.

[othersdie]

Then do that. Get this to work.

[had_not_lived]

I think.... I really do think it will, somehow or other. We'll manage.