The Trouble with Time, Part 18 - Cane

A bell dings and a door slams open.

"Monsieur Kevin, you son-of-a-bitch!" calls Leroy as he strides in, his hands thrown triumphantly into the air. He twirls around a black cane above his head, which he brings down with a bang to accentuate his halt. He grins impossibly wide as he leans on the cane. "Did you actually get it?"

Kevin looks at him with a single raised eyebrow. He's leaning back in his chair, his feet propped up on the table. She's sitting in the armchair, playing with her phone. She didn't even look up when he entered, he notes, feeling oddly proud.

"We did," he says and Leroy throws his hands in the air again.

"Magnifique!" he shouts and walks over. He places his hands on the table and leans in. "Show me."

She pulls out one of the three oranges and his head snaps around. His eyes widen and it almost looks like the gold of the orange is reflecting from them. He reaches over, but she pulls it away. They have a glaring contest.

"Monsieur Leroy," Kevin says, bringing his attention back to himself. He holds out his hand. "The First Love, if you would."

"Why, of course, 'ow rude of me," Leroy says, and straightens himself. "I just got so excited! 'Ere you go." He turns the silver knob on the end of his cane and it splits in four, opening up. A vial rises up, inside something light pink and sparkly. He plucks the vial and shakes it a bit. The contents swirl around gently as he places it on the table. Kevin picks it up, looks at it agains the light.

"Oh, yes, that's the real deal," he says with a nod and puts the vial back down. "Now just dig up that other vial and my Aquirer will hand you the Orange."

"Zere is no need to be so suspicious, monsieur Kevin," Leroy says as the second vial rises from the cane. "We are just making some business 'ere."

"Please, don't take it personally," Kevin says. Leroy slaps the second vial on his hand. "There are so many people who walk in, thinking they can swindle me. The shop's anti-theft systems are very good, of course, but I always practice a bit of extra care when it comes to the more valuable merchandise. Surely you understand."

"A proper businessman, I see," Leroy says with a smile only slightly forced. She offers up the orange again and he all but snatches it form her. He turns it around in his hands, his mouth slightly open. He looks mesmerized. "Magnifique," he says again. "Trés magnifique." Then he clears his throat and places the orange in the still open end of the cane. It distorts in shape as the cane swollows it up. He turns to look at Kevin and smiles. "Well, with zis I bid my adieu for now. I 'ope we'll make business again another time."

"You know where to find me," Kevin says with a smile. Leroy nods curtly, before spinning on his heel and walking out. A bell dings as the door behind him closes.

"Well," she says, letting out a long breath. "Now he's dealt with. What now?"

"Now," says Kevin, picking up the vials and standing. "You need to go get some winterberries."

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Nothing very long or exciting this time, had a busy day. But I think this is good for now. As Kevin said, next up is the berries and then we'll be in the endgame, bois!

But now I'm off to bed, next topic is Spoon! Bye~

Pie out.