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Magnus has been on call for Trinkets and Trades, the Shadow Worlds op shop and commission connection store. It was never known where it would show up, but once it was moved its location was quickly spread around.
Part of being on call was making sure donations got proper labels. As much fun, as finding out a young Warlock had summoned a lemon because the spell that he had found was written in cursive (he had been trying to summon a demon after all.) Such things, tend to have the reverse problem.
Second hand or too low quality trinkets, were always part of the haul, after all just because the first couple of pendants of luck failed to pass your requirements doesn't mean that it doesn't have power. Warlocks tend to be perfectionists but not all downworlders have the hundreds of years to collect funds to buy spells.
At least once a year, it was Magnus's turn to check in items. He had long since been given access to the pre-sorting room to check donations for accurasy and determime price. All trinkets were given an ID mark that the buyer could bring back and be connected with the maker. Anonomusly setting up connection in case of requests for commitions this is an excellent way to find apprentices and to make new connections.
It was also a last resort mailing point, because someone realized that with the reputation and connections the shop had it could help with missing or lost connections. Finding the hidden letters was also part of the sorting because if the shop sees you trying to donate a letter they will refuse it. After the first letters successfully gotten to its intended target they were becoming a post office. The downworld had many ways of sending letters but some how Trinkets still managed to get letters. This time there was only two letters, one from a reclusive vampire, unable to contact his warlock friend (and after the Circle) was trying to find them again. They had completely changed their name and had forgotten to leave notice for the vampire. Magnus changed the address to the new name and sent it on its way, the warlock could decide to reach back if they want.
The other was a young wolf who had met a warlock with "the most beautiful scales" and fallen in love. Given that warlock with scales was about as good the blonde, this would not be going anywhere and was sent to the board of Discarded Mail. After all, someone should get enjoyment from this tragedy of romance.
After the letters if was off to sorting the new donations. Many amulets of protection, candles (including a red duck) and cure all potions as always were checked and priced. Then is was on to the more interesting items. Today he had 4, the chair, an amulet of cleavage, a bag of holding and a dreamcatcher.
The chair had been rated before but as it had not been sold here it was. It was a strange chair, it had its card still attached: Chair is attuned to owners feelings and if the seated has annoyed or caused the owner displesure a leg will fall off causing the seated to fall. NOTE: Ownership is past by handing current owner money while seated, leave contact info for setting up transfer on purchase). Thinking on it Alec might enjoy having it in his office. Magnus mused on if Clary or Jace would get it to break first.
The bag of holding looked normal enough but when removing an item for testing it came back covered in glitter, this repeated for multiple items placed inside. He checked for any other faults and finding none put a note that it was 50% off for the inconvenience and attached a card: Bag of Holding used, all items retreaved will be covered in glitter after being placed inside, magical cleaning attempt caused no improvement 50% off.
Finding that the amulet of cleavage that for once did not need to be placed in id closet, caused Magnus to laugh. An amulet of cleavage that when warn gives real D-cup boobs until removed. He marked it as bought and put his contact on it. After all the on-call, warlocks got to have some perks but setting the price of items that they wanted was not one of them. He had been trying to think of a good present for Jax Cross's 100th. They had been moaning about being flat on Femme days the last time he saw them. This should be a great present. To say Magnus was avoiding inspecting the dreamcatcher wouldn't be wrong per se, but he always preferred to check anything that required an incantation in his own lab.
Once everything else was finished, Magnus marked down that he was taking the dream catcher to be tested and went home. The dreamcatcher setup required a bed and an incantation. So after snapping up a cot and attaching the dream catcher Magnus performed the incarnation. At first nothing happened. Then the dreamcatcher began to spin and enlarge. It was turning into a summoning circle.
Before Magnus could begin to worry it was over. The dreamcatcher was now painted on the floor and a man with the ageless features and ancient eyes of an immortal was sitting on it.
"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting."
"Not again."
Mags and the stranger spoke at the same time.