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(3:38) Hello! I am sorry to message you out of the blue like this but I received this number from your clerk as a means to pass along my dissatisfaction with your services and perhaps open a line of communication for future sales.
(3:39) Yesterday I came to your shop with the intention of picking up the books about magic which I had reserved a month ago! Only to find that you had given them to someone else! Despite my paying the reservation fees!
(3:39) I must let you know that I find this very unprofessional but I will let you know that I am quite determined to source certain magical books and I would like to remain your patron for the time being.
(3:40) I have no great amounts of wealth but I am willing to pay as much as I am able to reserve rare books and would appreciate it if, in the future, you would refrain from giving them away!
[3:45] i believe you have the wrong number
(3:48) Oh.
(3:50) Are you quite certain? This is definitely the number that was given to me.
[3:51] quite certain
[3:52] interested in magic are you?
(3:52) I am!!!
(3:52) But I am struggling quite a bit to get a hold of any books about or of magic. Someone keeps swiping the books that I reserve!! I am at my wits end, I tell you!!
(3:53) Are you interested in magic?
[3:57] not as such
[3:58] but i know some who are
[3:58] you say someone is “swiping” your books
(3:58) Indeed they are!! They show up right after I’ve reserved the books and, oh, I don’t know, bribe the clerk and take them.
[3:59] do you know who
(4:00) Unfortunately, no but they seem to know me, which is quite unsettling. I’m afraid I might have some sort of a stalker.
(4:01) Oh, but don’t worry about all that!!! I am sorry for bothering you and for the message spam.
(4:01) Have a good day!! :)
[4:02] that’s alright. I was bored anyways
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[9:01] these magical books
[9:01] what are they about if you dont mind my asking
(9:03) Hello, again! :)
(9:03) I certainly don’t mind!!
(9:05) The books that I was looking for yesterday were Jacques Belasis’s The Instructions and Yves’s Guide to Botany In Magic
(9:05) But honestly, I’ll take anything at this point.
[9:06] Belasis’s Instructions is a bit of a tall order no?
(9:06) I thought you weren’t interested in magic? You know of Belasis?
[9:10] ah
[9:10] i said i wasnt interested. not that i didn’t know of it
(9:11) Oh, I see!
(9:11) Well, either way, I suppose it is a tall order, as you put it but I was told that the shop would have the book coming in from an estate sale so I simply reserved it.
[9:13] ah
(9:14) Oh but, sir, now that I know you are knowledgeable about magic, I am quite interested in picking your brain about it!!
(9:14) I know you said you aren’t interested per-se but how did you come across your knowledge? Did you study it in university or is it a more holistic approach? Have you actually gotten to read Belasis’s Instructions? What is your opinion on the lack of magic being performed in England? Do you have any magical books of your own?
[9:20] that is a lot of questions
(9:21) Oh uh! haha sorry.
(9:21) It’s just that, well, I don’t get to speak to many modern magicians you see.
[9:22] your question about practical English magic is an interesting one
[9:22] why do you ask it
(9:23) Well!
(9:23) Um
(9:23) You see! Well!
(9:23) It’s just a matter of curiosity I suppose? I just wonder why we don’t practice magic anymore when it used to be so prominent.
(9:24) I have been told I am foolish for this curiosity. But I know it’s an important question. I don’t know how I know but I do.
[9:30] interesting
[9:31] my opinion is inconsequential
[9:31] but i believe the return of magic to England is inevitable
(9:31) Inevitable!!
(9:32) That is quite an inspiring take, I have to say. Not many hold the opinion that magic can or even should come back and I am in quite a disagreement with that notion.
(9:32) If I hear one more “it is a wrong question, Mr Segundus” I might lose my mind about it!!!
[9:33] indeed?
[9:33] segundus?
(9:33) oh oops
(9:34) Oh dear, I really ought to not be giving out my name with a stalker about.
[9:35] you truly believe youre being stalked?
(9:36) It’s the only way it makes sense! How could they possibly know where I was getting my books from?
[9:40] im unsure i would call it stalking
[9:40] sabotage maybe
(9:41) I suppose “stalking” is a bit severe. But it is not my fault I feel stalked!! I’m not the one following unsuspecting magicians about, taking their reserved books and materials!
[9:49] do you feel yourself in danger?
(9:50) Uh, I don’t know. I don’t know what this person’s intentions are, if they mean to scare me or simply inconvenience me.
(9:50) What about me warrants stalking anyways.
[9:51] i wouldnt know
[9:52] just stay inside at night i suppose
[9:53] although i think youre probably fine. no need to worry about it
(9:54) You’re probably right! :)
(9:54) Your conversation has been quite interesting. Would you mind terribly if I kept your number? I would very much enjoy continuing to talk about magic with you.
(9:56) Ah, that is to say, I would hate to impose.
(9:56) You can say no, I won’t be offended!!!
(9:56) I suppose you could just block my number.
(9:56) It is up to you, dear stranger!!!
(9:56) Sorry!!!
[9:57] i dont mind
[9:58] do whatever you like
(9:58) Oh, wonderful! Do feel free to reach out to me if you yourself wish to discuss magic.
[9:59] i will
[9:59] much obliged
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(12:30) Did you know there are 10 whole accounts of creating precious gems from potions? Fascinating!
[12:45] that doesnt sound right
[12:45] where are you reading this
(12:46) A biography of the life of the Comte de Saint Germain! Written by Clarence Oliver.
(12:47) It’s mostly a historical book but it details many of his feats of magic.
[12:48] and you believe them?
(12:48) I understand they are embellished but there are many first and second hand accounts of his accomplishments and he was quite known for his alchemical work and conjuring jewels and gold.
(12:48) Frankly, if we were to discount every magician based on how embellished their lives were then I fear we would have no real practical magicians left to study.
[12:50] i suppose thats fair
[12:51] and your thoughts on his being immortal?
(12:52) Okay, now that I’m not so sure about haha
(12:52) If any magician has found the key to immortality, be it the elixir of life or whatever have you, we certainly haven’t seen proof of it.
(12:53) Bit like winning the lottery, I imagine. If you do win it, tell no one and run away to the Caribbean!
(12:53) What do you make of the Count, dear stranger?
[12:56] i think hes a load of shit
[12:56] but you may have a point with the embellishment of most practical magicians. the aureates were a vain bunch. many enjoyed doing magic for fame and glory and not much else
[12:57] you seem to know what youre talking about when it comes to magic. more than most. what exactly do you have to do with it
(12:59) Ah, well, I consider myself a theoretical magician. I went to school to study it as much as it could be studied these days.
(1:00) Although, these days magical opportunities are precious little. I make my small contributions to research papers and that’s about it.
(1:00) I am not a wealthy man and I don’t have the resources to make a profession out of it just yet.
[1:03] i see
(1:04) And what about you? You seem as knowledgeable as I am. I recall asking you a similar question but I don’t think you answered.
[1:05] mm
[1:05] indeed you did
(1:06) I’m starting to get the impression that you have no intention of sharing anything about yourself with me haha!
(1:07) Don’t worry, I won’t force you. But it would be nice to have something to call you by, if only to put a proper name into my contacts instead of just your number!
[1:08] is that so
(1:08) Yes, I would hate to have to put in a completely embarrassing string of emojis in place of your name that will forever be associated with you, never to be removed even if I should learn your proper name!!
(1:09) Tragic!
[1:10] …
[1:10] do what you like
[1:11] its your phone
(1:12) Okay!!!
(1:12) [Image Attachment]
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Childermass glanced over at Mr Norrell, who was fully engrossed in his work, surrounded by open books and papers. He continued writing and did not look up when his assistant opened his phone for the twentieth time in the past hour.
Tapping on the screen, he opened the photo which was simply a screenshot of their texts but at the top was, in place of any name or number was a string of text emojis— the face with the Groucho glasses, the wizard emoji, the creepy blue moon with the face, the question mark emoji, and most perplexingly, the raven emoji. Childermass, despite himself, could feel a small smile quirk up on his lips. He had to admit, it was a bit amusing.
There was a shuffling of papers and Norrell spoke. “What on earth are you smiling at, Childermass?” He asked, baffled.
His smile dropped immediately and he shoved his phone into his back pocket, turning back to his task of filing and archiving physical copies of scholarly articles. “Nothing, sir,” he mumbled. When Norrell shook his head and turned back to his own work, Childermass glanced at him for a few moments before pulling his phone back out slowly and hiding it behind a box of files.
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(1:15) I suppose this might not actually be as funny as I find it to be.
[1:23] it is funny
[1:24] whats the raven for
(1:25) It just felt appropriate. Ravens are mysterious creatures aren’t they? Makes me think of the Edgar Allan Poe novel.
[1:26] do i make you think of Edgar Allan Poe
(1:27) I would have to know more about you to make a true assessment but in a way, I think you do!
(1:27) I hope that doesn’t sound like an insult! It is not!
[1:28] they are good stories
[1:29] i take no offense
(1:30) Oh, good!!
(1:34) What are you up to right now? :)
[1:37] filing papers
[1:37] work
(1:38) Oh dear! Serious business. I hope I haven’t been too distracting to you!!
[1:39] it is not serious, trust me
[1:40] quite boring actually, talking to you has been
[1:42] preferable
(1:43) Preferable!!!
(1:43) I’ll take it! You have been quite “preferable” yourself! Haha
(1:44) Although, I actually need to go. I am on the hunt! I believe I have sourced some more books about magic and I will not let them pass me by this time!!
[1:45] oh?
[1:46] where did you find them?
(1:47) Oh, just this little hole in the wall shop that sells antiques. I believe it’s just called McAlister’s after the owner.
(1:48) Anyways, I’ll update you later! :))
[1:49] please do
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Putting his phone into his back pocket once again, he grabbed his long coat off of the chair and started putting it on. He turned to Norrell, who had looked up with a raised brow.
“I believe I may have sourced some more books, if you’d like to send me after them.”
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