Magic finds a way. (Jade)

[heroesdreamer]

Ireland was walking down a very busy New York sidewalk, she had heard of a shop that was similar to hers, yet different, and she had the day off so wanted to go check it out. Her blond hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing a cute long sleeved pink shirt and blue jeans, she had her destination on her maps app and was currently very close to it. She was very curious to see if the owner of the shop was in and if she'd be willing to talk shop with her, but if she wasn't, that would be okay as well.

In just a few minutes, Ireland had reached the door and stepped inside, looking around at all the treasures and getting distracted by a display of items, she right aways leaned in closer for a better look. She then noticed a lady nearby and approached her. "Hi, are you the owner of the shop?" she asked, curious as always.

[jade]

"Hi, are you the owner of the shop?" she asked, curious as always

Jade was busy putting a last few bracelets out a local artist has designed as a women walked in and distracted her from what she was doing. Her Emerald green eyes looked up and Jade smiled as she spoke to greet to women, who felt oddly familiar.

“Why yes I am my name is Jade is there something I can help you with today?”

Jades rainbow extensions in her hair caught the light just right as spoke a singular strand of her honey brown hair swooped down for a moment as Jade tucked it behind her ear. She went back to arranging the bracelets as she awaited for the woman to speak.

[heroesdreamer]

Ireland smiled as Jade introduced herself and replied "I own a small occult shop of my own and heard about this one, I wanted to check it out and of course meet you" she stated with a warm smile, adding "By the way, I love the rainbow in your hair!" Smiling still, she looked at what wares she could find and asked "Can you show me what you like the most?" Also, before they moved, Ireland admired the braclets that Jade was arranging, mentioning "I love that you have more of a variety of jewelry here, I've been finding it hard to get actual earrings and such! Usually the crystals either come as just what they are, or they come in necklaces."

As she spoke, she reached out to touch one of the bracelets, slipping it on her wrist for a brief moment before returning it to where Jade had placed it. "They are beautiful" she said, smiling once more at the woman she'd just met and hoping they could become friends. "Can I ask what made you decide to open a shop?" she asked out of curiosity.

[jade]

"I own a small occult shop of my own and heard about this one, I wanted to check it out and of course meet you. By the way, I love the rainbow in your hair! Can you show me what you like the most?"

Jade smiled and humbly tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. It had been a long time since Jade had someone come into her life so full of life and compliments form the start. The women had said she owned and occult shop similar to Jades and Jade was a little confused. She had hardly ever considered her shop an occult one, more Obbities and other collection items that happened to come along the way. She had even created a gallery space on the second floor and as Jade thought about her connections to magic and the occult and what she did it dawned on her. The shop had evolved in a sense into an oddities and Occult shop.

"I love that you have more of a variety of jewelry here, I've been finding it hard to get actual earrings and such! Usually the crystals either come as just what they are, or they come in necklaces. They are beautiful. Can I ask what made you decide to open a shop?"

Jade listened intently and gave a friendly smile as she tried on the Jewelry she had just finished putting on the bracelet cuff. She was happy to meet another shop keeper and was more then a little thrilled show her around, but first she had to put out the necklaces and earrings she had also gotten. Jade pondered for a moment taking out the tote box that contained the wears and placing them on the glass counter top.

“You know…that bracelet is beautiful. The artist who creates them is local. You see I try to showcase local artists here as well as my collection of oddities for sale. I don’t sell magical items, more oddities and things with ancient meanings that i have acquired or been given to some degree. I never thought to sell anything from the Occult or at least never really considered my items in that way. You’re not wrong though my shop has been growing a bit.”

Jade pulled out the necklaces and a display rack for them that stood behind the bracelets showing off the matching sets and the beauty of them. Jade smiled as she found one particular necklace that matched the bracelet well.

“You should try this one with the bracelet.”

She paused for a moment and sheepishly spoke.

“Oh I’m so terribly sorry I seem to have not gotten your name or the name of your shop.”

Jade could feel that they were brought together for a reason, maybe different then others who came to Obescura, but like many before the woman who stoodj before her the shop had drawn them here for a reason.

“My shop tends to bring people here for a reason, I don’t just own this shop. We also have a gallery, creative space, with a lounge for those who want to be creative or just seek sanctuary from life. I do different viewings of local artwork and showcase a local artist a month. My own works of art are there as well. I also am a performer seasonally at the Coney Island Freak show.”

Jade paused as she finished up the necklaces and pulled out a display earring tree and positioned it just right so the necklaces and earrings stood behind the bracelets complimenting them just right. Jade started putting out the earrings as she spoke.

“Oh dear I seem to have gotten way off track. Some of my most adored items aren’t necessarily for sale, so I put them on display here. For example the complicate replica of Cindy Island with the freak show included. If comes from 1972 so it’s not as modern as todays Coney Island , but it’s a beautiful replica. It’s actually in the front window there. “

Jade smiled and pointed to the window containing the display item. She then continued to sort and place the earrings on the rack.

“ I like to think I offer something for everyone, I event take special request….but enough about my space here.what is your space like?l

[heroesdreamer]

Ireland watched as Jade moved, constantly working while listening to her and admiring how she set everything up, but she did blush when Jade recommended a necklace to go with the bracelet she'd tried on. "They are both beautiful" she softly said as she fastened the necklace around her neck briefly before setting it back where it belonged. She blushed a bit more as Jade asked for her name and she said "It's Ireland, sorry I didn't give it to you before. My shop name is A Cozy Cottage, kind of evoking small town vibes."

She looked around as Jade mentioned everything she did or had in her shop, noting the name and that it was supposed to be more of an oddities shop. "I can see that" she replied, smiling and leaning forward a bit as Jade mentioned a display of the Circus that she was a part of, admiring it before turning her attention back to Jade. "My shop is more witchcraft themed, with potions, crystals and all that. I was mentored by a witch in my home town and I wanted to bring that to people who maybe need a little magic in their lives." she explained, "plus with all the heroes and villains that run around, I wanted a somewhat safe place for people to come when fights break out."

Heading back to the jewelry, she picked up the necklace and bracelet and said "I want to buy these", feeling drawn toward them. She quietly asked "Do you have a power?", curious to hear what Jade had to say.

[jade]

Jade was "They are both beautiful" she softly said as she fastened the necklace around her neck briefly before setting it back where it belonged. She blushed a bit more as Jade asked for her name and she said "It's Ireland, sorry I didn't give it to you before. My shop name is A Cozy Cottage, kind of evoking small town vibes."

Jade smiled as Ireland admired the jewlery. She was drawn to that one for a reason, Jade was actually the artist to made the jewlery and each one had its own unique properties that helped to fulfill someone’s needs. Jade smiled at the choice and proceeded to cash Ireland out at the register. It was old fashion in design but had been modified to be an electronic

"My shop is more witchcraft themed, with potions, crystals and all that. I was mentored by a witch in my home town and I wanted to bring that to people who maybe need a little magic in their lives." she explained, "plus with all the heroes and villains that run around, I wanted a somewhat safe place for people to come when fights break out."

Jade listened as Ireland explained her shop and witch craft and how she was mentored by a witch. Jade pondered for a moment about what Ireland had said, magic the occult mentors. A smile came across her face as Ireland admired the shop and wares a bit. The next question was a bit more complicated then Ireland had intended. How was she suppose to explain her self, when Jade had barely come to know who she was exactly. Jade quietly closed the cash drawer to the register and headed over with the jewelry in a small light purple bag.

"Do you have a power?"

Jade was trying to not show her true emotions. She always felt mixed emotions when sharing about herself, not wanting to trauma dump when she first met someone, but also wanting to be truthful with who she was.

“It’s hard for me to explain but yes I believe I am what some would refer to as “powered” from what I recently learned from a good friend. I am someone who has an X gene, making me a mutant. I though grew up with the occult and I learned magic and spells and all of that. I grew up really different than most people. I was a traveler with my family and we did performances. My ancestors are all linked through what we call celestial magic. My life is kinda complicated really, but it’s how I learned I want my place to be a sanctuary or a refuge for those who needed it.”

Jade inwardly sighed as she hoped to
Not scare Ireland off, then again she didn’t scare off Kurt, so maybe Ireland wouldn’t be much different. She passed the bag along the counter and spoke to Ireland.

“I should like to see your shop, might be nice to see someone’s shop that has a bit of magic in it. Also I know this is going to sound strange, but what do you mean when you say you are witch? In my culture we did refer to people who use magic as witches we refer to them as just other beings. Magic in my life was very much a common practice as I come more and more acclimated to this world, I realize there is a lot I was not exposed to growing up.”

Jade fiddled with a few more items here and there arranging them here and there trying ever so hard to not think about her dark trauma. Then again the sun would be setting soon, which meant it would be hunting time soon.

[heroesdreamer]

Ireland bought the jewelry and carefully took the bag Jade had given her, then listened to Jade explain that she was a mutant. "Oh, like the people who go to the school, Xavier's, I believe it's called?" she questioned, nodding her head along with the story of Jade's family. "That's really cool, I think I had a book as a girl about a family who lived in a circus" she shared before saying "I have a power as well, if I change forms I can learn about another person's power, if there's another person with me. It's useful but so far it's only helped me fight off a robber, but I don't know if they knew they had one."

Thinking for a bit, she admitted "I just found out recently, it had never come up while I was growing up." She then paused to think again after being asked how she knew she was a witch. "Well, I chose to follow witchcraft after meeting the older lady in my hometown, I lived in Montana growing up." she explained. "My family had a farm and I didn't want to inherit it, I always wanted to move somewhere in a big city, and eventually I got here and I love it! But also I do believe there are some powered people who call themselves witches? But basically I just believe in the power of the Universe and I was trained in how to cast spells and such."

As Jade mentioned magic being common, Ireland sighed a bit. "I have to admit I'm a bit jealous. Other than my mentor, not many people where I lived believed in magic, what was it like growing up knowing magic existed?" She was curious but also smiled and said "I would love for you to come see my shop!", and she pulled a business card out of her purse and handed it to Jade.

[jade]

Jade finished with the inventory of the items and listened to what Ireland had to say. She mentioned the Xavier school again and was intrigued Ireland was now the 4th person to mention Xavier’s school to hear. Just what was this school all about? Then she heard Ireland talk about reading about circus performers in a book and possibly having a power for herself. Jade thought for a moment before responding the last thing she wanted to do was scare this women off.

“My life isn’t a fairy tale, for me I was born in a different country were we lived as a tribal nation similar to your Native Americans. I came here at a young age with my family in exile, I realize now that we were hunted by a group of militia people looking to hunt and round up my people because we had an X gene. Life prior to the “purge” was great we shared within our community, we took care of each other. Magic was just a part of our lives it wasn’t perceived as different or anything taboo. We each had our rankings as we grew older that played a role within the community. I’m part of a family of soul revears, meaning we bring souls peace and send souls of pure evil and darkness back to where they belong. “

Jade paused in her words reminding what she had learned from Carol and Jean, even Shadowking, for as deep as he had scared her. The fact people could be redeemed it was as simple as she once believed and how she so desperately wanted to be different then what she was becoming.
Jade wanted more times like with Kurt helping people find their path again and freeing them. The conflict within her lied though with knowing the truth of the dark under belly of society the rats that swam up from the sewers and caused more pain and suffering then anyone could know, where they redeemable? Jade questioned that ever day. Did the punishment she delt out fit the crime? Jade shook her head out of her own thoughts as she continued speaking.

“That’s not to say that I don’t see people as redeemable or even still fully follow the ancient traditions of my ancestors. Since growing up here in America, not necessarily New York. I have learned a lot about this world, but I was never fully exposed to main stream culture. I feel as though I am at a disadvantage from others such as yourself when it comes down to understanding this world. For example I recently learned about what is a mutant is and what an X gene is. My memories I have learned may have even been fractured by something very dark. So I guess what I am saying though we were raised very differently I would love to learn more about this world with you. For example you’re now the third person to mention the Xavier school to me, what is the Xavier school? also these Xmen everyone talks about are they similar to the Avengers?”

Jade smiled at Ireland realizing she had said far more than she intended, but for some reason she just felt connected to Ireland. Maybe it was they both understood the occult world or maybe it was that Ireland just felt less judgmental than most. All Jade knew was she felt connected to her and wanted her to teach her about the world and maybe just maybe Ireland would join Jade on a few hunts.