Owner	Pose
Selene Gallio	It IS an occult shop, which may explain why there are cosplayers about. For surely, the woman wearing naught but a tight black leather corset, a scant black thong, thigh high boots, and a small little black cape clasped at the back of the corset must be dressing up for her visit to the occult shop. Nonetheless, Selene appears to be intently moving along the aisles, her fingers occasionally picking up one item for sale or another. As if in search of something in particular.
Nico Minoru	Nico's not really in a panic... she hasn't /cast/ the spell she's been studying recently yet, but she is in a /hurry/. Because she's wanting to get this spell cast, to practice some Not-Reliant-on-the-Staff magic to remind herself she can do it, and she's not just the flesh taxi for the ancient demon staff. A bit of Google, a little turnstyle jumping, and a quick subway ride later and she's doing her best to look too cool for school. The ornate dark silk dress, with contrasting white petticoat, the patent leather boots with heavy buckles that disappear up under that ruffled fabric, probably ending at her knees... if she had typhoid or cholera, she'd look like a Victorian waif. She's in the midst of her own careful browsing down the aisles and cupboards, unwilling to ask for help... when she pauses and finds herself staring. Winter's over and all, but... that /has/ to be chilly. Dark painted lips fall open, eyes widen a little... Nico's almost /certainly/ going to be noticed, especially if Selene can sense magic energy. Who's ever felt that much coming from such a stunned, dumbfounded young woman before after all? And if she doesn't notice the energy, well, Nico's staring like a fish out of water.
Selene Gallio	Oh, she notices. Selene's gaze turns towards Nico, her eyes taking her in immediately. And there is a sense that her eyes are not just looking at what the other patrons see, either. A slow smile forms on the woman's black painted lips, a sharp contrast to the pale of the rest of her skin. "Hello there, child," she says with a voice both haunting and inviting. "What do you have there?" The object on the shelf is forgotten as Selene turns on her heels and slowly approaches Nico. She moves with a slow, languid pace, seemingly designed to accentuate every way that costume fits on her.
Nico Minoru	Nico should probably react... should run. Stammer an excuse for staring. But all she does is continue to gape and stare, helpless as those black painted lips slowly spread in a smile. ...That shade is /definitely/ better than her own matte black lipstick. That motion is dangerous, part of Nico's mind screams at her to run, but it's drowned out by the heat that rushes through her. Well, a couple of heats. Shame at being caught staring, and a more understandable heat at being the focus of this dark goddess's attention. She lifts a small vial, "Oh... it's uhh... just thyme, I think... I need some herbs for... uhh... a project..." She frowns ever so slightly, almost pouts, "You can buy it at the grocery store but... they give you so much. And it sounds kinda tacky... 'Oh, I got my spell components at the grocery store', right?"
Selene Gallio	The Black Queen draws nearer to Nico, reaching out slowly with a hand. Black painted nails against pale fingers move to brush against Nico's cheek, and it almost feels like there is an electricity associated with the touch. As a magic user, Nico would likely realize it is more than that - this woman oozes supernatural ability, just that taste of which indicates her total power is likely off the charts. "Thyme, my dear?" Her eyes look into Nico's, and then finally pull away to tip down, looking at the jar in question. "Are you making grilled cheese, or casting a spell?"
Nico Minoru	Nico does tense a little like a cornered fox, her eyes going from wide-eyed stunned entrancement at Selene's appearance, to a narrowed, nervous glint... oh yes, the gaze of the experienced street kid. She doesn't pull back from that touch, even if there's a low hiss from the goth girl, and her teeth clench on her lower lip. She snorts out softly and rolls her eyes, "Well, it's more of... I mean, the book /says/ potion, but I think it's more like... an herbal curative? You know, like one of those five hour energy drinks, but all natural. Ginger and thyme and so on and so on." She frowns thoughtfully and eyes the small jar, "Although grilled cheese.... hm. Maybe I /am/ making one. Gotta have something for dinner." She narrows her eyes a little more, "And what brings /you/ by this little niche of wonder and mysticism? You seem like you know your stuff... just showing off?"
Selene Gallio	A smile with no warmth at all broadens on Selene's face. "An energy drink," she murmurs, watching Nico. She is aware of how uncomfortable she is making her. She just seems not to care. "Why dabble in such minor remedies?" Her fingers curl against Nico's face, as her lips move, a mere whisper. Nico will see it for what it is, some form of incantation. There is a flow of energy from Selene's fingertips into Nico's cheeks, radiating out from that touch. As it washes over her body, Nico would feel all of her fatigue fade away. The pangs of hunger. Her awareness would sharpen, whatever lack of sleep she may have endured disippates. And she feels a renewed vigor, beyond the mere restoration. Super charged, perhaps. Selene simply arches an eyebrow at Nico's question. Perhaps thinking her actions enough to answer the question.
Nico Minoru	Nico should probably be worried about that arcane murmuring... should really stop Selene before she finishes. Definitely shouldn't just watch her like a rapt audience member at a stage show trying to memorize the motions. But she doesn't do anything until that power rushes through her, and she /gasps/, loud, sharp, deep, lungs filling, eyes widening, brightening as she seems to nearly lift off her feet! ...She doesn't, because she manages to dampen that levitation before she does more than get light on her feet. Whoops. Those newly bright, alert, feverish eyes stare, her brow furrows, and she leans in, almost lips to ear with Selene as she hisses out, "Okay, you are /not/ here to buy thyme or some touristy bullshit, lady. What _do_ _you_ _want_?" She pulls back, those eyes gleaming, her hands fidgeting at her sides, almost curling into fists... like Nico's used to mysterious magical women showing up being a herald of /trouble/ for her.
Selene Gallio	That smile is replaced by a grin. Selene regards Nico for a moment, before leaning over herself, a mirror of Nico's own posture. With her rather outrageous outfit, one can hear the stretching of the leather as it tries to contrain her form. Her lips /do/ go to Nico's ear, but there is no warmth to them, or to the air that flows into her ear. "You."
Nico Minoru	Nico's providing plenty of warmth for Selene, her throat clenching, there's no way to subtly hide the sound of her swallowing... it's louder than that outrageous leather outfit, that stretching fabric. Her hips cock and she crosses her arms under her chin, chewing her lower lip, sucking on it for a long moment as she murmurs dryly, "Oh, god... you didn't hear I do Tarot readings, did you? Listen, they're fake, I just make it up to get cash from tourists, I'm not one of those witches that can see the future, I just..." She sighs and lifts the sleeve of her left arm, showing off that arcande, prosthetic forearm, fingers flexing and wiggling, "Have potential. And some... artefacts? I dunno, /magic items/ sounds like I live in a video game." If Nico notices that outright chill from Selene's closeness, she doesn't let on... but then, she's still feeling like the store was momentarily relocated to the surface of the sun, her heart pounding in her ears, "Uhh... I'm Nico, by the way."
Selene Gallio	A smile resides on Selene's face as she straightens, watching Nico's every reaction. "Selene. The Black Queen." She extends her hand towards Nico, politely this time. "And do not attempt to deceive me, Nico. I am well aware that you are more than you appear." Her gaze flickers over Nico's form again.
Nico Minoru	Nico snorts derisively at that statement she's more than she appears, "Nah, I'm definitely exactly what I look like! An amateur magician who's got a... /thing/ that..." She groans and rolls her eyes, "Listen it's a whole thing, and I don't want to bore you here in the store with it." She draws a raspy little breath, grinning crookedly, a little more relaxed as she slips her hand into that offered one, "Nice to meet you, Selene. I'll tell you more, but... not here, right?" She rolls her eyes and grins, "For one thing, some guy's going to walk by on the sidewalk and /see/ us, and then he's going to try and approach us and be all smooth and..." She shudders, "Yeah, best to avoid that whole thing. Awkward hitting on is the worst. Literally worse than being attacked by animated Christmas displays at Walmart."
Selene Gallio	That black eyebrow arches, striking against the pale skin. "A whole thing?" Listening to Nico go on, Selene's face twists into a smile. "Then we would simply feast on his life force, and the problem would solve itself." She smiles. Is she kidding? No indications so. "I reside not far from here. Would that be an adequate place to explain?"
Nico Minoru	Nico's mouth doesn't fall open, she doesn't run away. She should run away... but hey, she hasn't had a mystical mentor in months, and her last one was involved with /angels/ invading Manhattan, so... if they meet again, pff, he can't judge her bad decisions. Plus, if she gets Selene out of here, this imaginary frat boy isn't going to wind up getting his soul sucked out. She bobs her head and smiles just as friendly as she can, "Sure, that ought to work! Plus, I mean you can... turn the thermostat up or something? God, how are you not /shivering/? That cape must be warm." Nico slips in beside Selene, hip to hip, and drops that small jar of thyme back on the shelf. She'll just snip some from one of those hipster restaurants that grow herb gardens in the back if she wants to fancify her grilled cheese later.
Selene Gallio	"The cold never bothered me." comes Selene's reply, a cryptic smile on her face. She draws Nico with her by the hand, turning to head out of the bookshop. It may occur to Nico that the hand is ice cold, as well. Ray looks to Selene as she leaves, and gives her a smile. Not a warm smile. Not an appreciative one. The kind that one gives as someone is leaving that says you finally feel free to run to the bathroom having avoided peeing in your pants.
Nico Minoru	Nico's eyes narrow... so /so/ suspicious. Because the black lingerie, the /eating souls/ remark. The cocaine-like rush of that earlier magic? Oh, she can roll with that. The idea of Selene chilling out watching Frozen? Super sus. Still, she doesn't notice Ray's reaction to the duo leaving, because she's really too busy pondering that icy cold... but hey, she figures... she was once offered a demonic contract at a big Halloween party and didn't sign it. She's responsible enough to tangle up with bad news. This is going to go places.