2019-10-04 - Superstitions And Woodchippers

Clarissa has been up in the loft area all morning, long enough that there's a couple of empty paper coffee containers pushed up against a wall on one of the tables and piles of books this way and that around a laptop as if this was a library rather than a book store where people should be purchasing things and then leaving. And judging from those expensive shoes, she probably could purchase a hell of a lot, yet here she is, trying to balance a couple of books in one hand while she reaches for another one that's just a little too high on the shelf, "Come on--no, no, no, no!" She commands the books that sway and then fall with a clatter to the floor.

Kelsey's arm was still bandaged up but there was no sling and she knew the bandage wouldn't be too long. Though, she knew the arm itself would still look like it belong on Frankenstein's Monster when all was said and done. She had walked down to Likely Stories, in need of some new reading material, and was just browsing idly when she heard Clarissa. Kelsey rounded the corner, just in time to watch Clarissa drop everything. The blonde snickered a bit and then made her way over, picking up a couple of the fallen books. "Want me to try and get it for ya?" Kelsey has a few inches on the woman, which is evident when she straightens back up to offer her the books.

The books are all on mystical things, the sort of nonsense one finds themselves watching a so called psychic discuss at 2 am when all other programs have gone off the air. Ghosts, other worlds, that kind of thing. Which isn't so crazy since this is the second for it, "Thank you," Clarissa replies when Kelsey helps gather the books, looking a little ashamed that someone's actually seeing her up here, "I was just thinking about...with Halloween coming on..." She doesn't finish any of those lame excuses and gives a nod, "Please. I think I need higher heels for these shelves."

Kelsey doesn't seem phased by the reading material. Probably because she has bookshelves full of stuff like this. "Hey, we're all into what we're into yeah?" She quirked a brow. "Though I doubt you're gonna find any cool costume ideas in those." She slowly started to reach up, fingertips brushing against the book and then she got on her tip toes a little more and was able to get a grip, pulling it down carefully. "Researching anything in particular?" Kelsey glanced over the title of the book she had retrieved before handing it to Clarissa. "Or are you just getting your feet wet?"

"I'd hardly call this research," Clarissa says airily, then offers a quiet thanks when Kelsey hands her the book. It's titled 'The Unseen World' and looks well worn, like a number of people have probably come here to check it out but never actually purchased it, "It's more just curiosity. For how people can believe things like this." That sounds reasonable. She sets a couple of the books down on the arm of the chair she was using and gives Kelsey a look she's probably familiar with, that 'how do I know you' one where it will only be moments before the news stories come into play. "Clarissa Robbins," she introduces herself, offering out a well-manicured hand. "I appreciate the assist there. Do you work here?"

"It's a good read, I've got a copy at home." Nodding to the book and offering a vague smile. "Wanna know the truth, Clarissa?" Kelsey shifted a bit- giving Clarissa a firm, but brief, handshake. "It's easier to believe in when you haven't seen proof that it exists." As backwards as that sounded. "Kelsey Wade." She offers in return, quite familiar with the look that had passed over Clarissa's face but she didn't have any notable reaction to it.

Clarissa's cheeks flush a bit when Kelsey says that and she looks away quickly after the handshake. Unfortunately the only things in view are a lot of books about the very things she does not want to believe in so much she needs to know more about them to know exactly what she's not believing. This made a whole lot more sense about three hours ago when she got here. "...I think you mean that it's hard to believe considering how outlandish and not real it all is," she corrects, though there's just a touch of uneasiness to her tone. Even she doesn't believe what she's saying. When Kelsey says her name there is recognition that lights up in her eyes for a moment. Ah, right. The girl that got away. But she politely doesn't say anything about it. Perhaps Clarissa is too keenly aware of how being recognized for a terrible thing gets old fast. "So do you believe in all of this?" She waves a hand in general at the section of books, "Ghosts, goblins, other worlds, psychic powers and such?"

"Is it so outlandish to believe?If aliens might be real, why not magic? Why not ghosts? Why not psychic powers?" Something in the way Kelsey says psychic powers there might be a little more emphasis on it. "I think the better question is, if you thinks it's so outlandish - why are you bothering to read more about it?" Her tone is simply curious - and there might be a hint of...something. Mischief? Knowing? It's hard to decipher. She moves to sit down in one of the free chairs. "Oh, and no - I don't work here. But I'm in here so often Elias might as well hire me." There's a little laugh to go along with that.

Clarissa hesitates, fingers lingering on the book she just set down before she too has a seat, "It seems like a lot of people in Gray Harbor are superstitious and I hate to dismiss anyone's beliefs without first having a good grounding in them," she replies smoothly, crossing her legs at the ankles. Her posture is so good even in these slouchy chairs, "And it is rather outlandish. Maybe it's different here, so close to the reservation and all that," which might be kind of a racist thing to say, "But back on the east coast you'd be laughed out of most places. Except when it comes to ghosts. They do love a good ghost story over there."

"Is it just superstition?" Kelsey's brow remained quirked for a moment longer and then settled. She, on the other hand, has terrible posture and really doesn't care a thing about it. "Why is it outlandish? Truth be told, I used to leave out east. Never thought much about anything. Not even when I moved to the midwest. But when I moved out here?" A thoughtful noise escaped her. "Tell me something Clarissa. Never, in your entire life, has something happened that you can't really explain?" Those intense, blue eyes settling on the woman.

Clarissa's fingers tighten along the edge of her very expensive skirt and she purses her lips, "Everything can be explained," she answers after a significant pause that is far more telling than those words, "The unexplained is just...when people are under intense amounts of stress, unexpected things happen. Things can be misunderstood. Misconstrued. Do you believe in all these things?" She gestures with a flick of her fingers towards the books, "Ghosts I can understand, I suppose, we all want to hold onto people after they're gone and their memories can be just as haunting as a spirit, but telepathy? Magic?" She shakes her head.

Kelsey studied Clarissa with a wry smile. The unspoken always spoke so much louder than spoken words. "I believe in most of them." Kelsey offered. "Because I've experienced it first hand. And, hell, I'd offer to show you first hand too but honestly? I don't think your ready for it." Talking so casually like were making plans to go to the movies or something. "Let me clarify, no one is ever really ready to get a band-aid ripped off. But it's important to have some kind of...mental preparation, an openmindness about it." She pushed her good hand through her hair. "What do you think you would do if you found out some of those things were real?"

"Move," Is Clarissa's immediate response, but the word is pretty hollow with no real threat behind it. She did that once already and look where she is now. She shifts uncomfortably in the chair, looking everywhere but Kelsey, "Everything has some kind of scientific explanation behind it. Maybe there are just some old farmhouses with grains that are rotting? That's what they say caused the Salem witch hysteria I've heard. Maybe you just think you've experienced something supernatural, but it's just environmental."

"Somehow, I don't believe you." Kelsey looked down at her injured arm for a moment - currently covered by her flannel, but, when her hand moved it was evident that she was missing a couple fingers. A laugh escaped her then. "Shit. I wish it was just some rotting grains." Looking away from her hand and then back to Clarissa. Tempted. So very tempted to show the woman something. But Kelsey was trying to be a little bit careful at least, until the bandages were off. "Tell you what. If you're interested. Why don't you do your readings, think about it all and whatnot, and then next time I see you I'll show you a couple things that I'd love to hear your scientific explanation for."

That sounds like a very dangerous offer and Clarissa knows that she ought to turn it down. But, she's a prim little princess and lifts her chin in the air before giving a nod and a smile, "I would be happy to..." She trails off a bit, only right then noticing the missing fingers and paling a touch then clearing her throat, "I don't intend to have this be an extended researching period. And it seems like you're recovering from an injury so I wouldn't want to strain you or your time."

Kelsey grinned then, "Oh it's no strain on me. This looked much, much worse before." She pushed her sleeve back carefully. Clarissa could see the tightly wrapped bandage that ran from her wrist to her elbow. "I'm really lucky I'm even still alive. I've been told I need to be more careful with the wood chipper." Though, the way she says that. With that wry chuckle. Might lead Clarissa to believe that a wood chipper was not the culprit. "Why don't we meet back here in a couple days then mm? And we'll see how your research went and if you're up for more?"

A wood chipper? Clarissa pales even more. That might be one of the best and grossest excuses she's ever heard and she can't imagine things looking much worse than that. "Of course, Miss Wade. If you can't find me here I'm usually at the library and barring that," she produces a little business card, which lists her occupation as chairwoman of the Gray Harbor historical society, "My assistant always knows how to reach me. I hope that you are a fast healer and things turn around for you soon."

Kelsey gets to her feet, accepting the card. "Perfect. I hope you enjoy your reading. I need to finish up and get back home to let the dog out." She pockets the card and rolls her sleeve down carefully. "It was good to meet you Clarissa. We'll see each other soon." Giving the Chairwoman a wink and then turning to head back down to the main floor of the bookstore.