2020-02-26 - Guilt-Free Geekery

It's not like she's seen there every Wednesday picking up her pull list. Trade paperbacks are more her speed. It's easier to keep her love of comics a low key thing. It's the one aspect of her that doesn't seem to fit with her high end expensive well dressed identity. But it's something that brings her joy. Joy had been in short supply for a while and picking up random comic series tend to bring it back for her.

She steps into the comic shop in a pair of skinny jeans and a long grey winter coat, and a pair of knee high boots, her wavy hair in a ponytail trailing behind her. She walks over to the latest trade paperback releases and begins to browse, to see if something appeals to her.

Wayne occasionally liked to swing by the shops to see what customers were into and help trim out ideas that other writers and illustrators were doing. What else would have him up and dressed this early in the morning. His heavy winter coat was mostly closed, but he slowly unzipped it upon entering the store. He stopped by the door allowing his eyes to adjust as he takes a sip from his Starbucks cup. His other hand slid into his blue jeans as he reached for his phone pulling it free to turn it on vibrate only.

Katherine smiles to herself as her favourites are picked up, and a book catches her eye. Esoteria vol 1. She’d scanned the first issue once before, out of sheer curiosity. And it had become the only series she collects single issues for. Already having the latest single issue in hand, she also takes the trade paperback. Why not? She supports local talent.

Wayne finished his cup while people watching when his eyes follow Katherine. No way right? But then after a moment she did indeed pick up volume one and a bit of a proud smile hit his face.
"I hope you enjoy the story." He offered while reviewing how many copies they had left in the store.

"I've been enjoying the series since I moved here," Katherine commented casually as she continued to scan the trade paperbacks. "I'm not big on superheroes. DC, Marvel, not really my thing. But if something connects with me, I'll pick it up. I've really enjoyed the series so far." She turns around to extend a hand. "I'm Kate."

He turns with a grin. "Hi Kate, my name is Wayne. Glad something connects for you. What part if you do not mind me asking? I am always looking for inspiration." He shook the offered hand, refusing to kiss it... for now.

"Ahhh, Wayne Evergreen. I think the best part of your narrative is how you capture the complete chaos and confusion of being caught in the web of inexplicable phenomena and trying sort it all out." Kate smiles. "I didn't realise you were in town. I heard you were the travelling type. I looked you up, of course."

"Yes Ma'am I came home. You were right that I had been travelling a lot but I do prefer to write from home. If you would like I can sign the back cover for you.' He smiles warmly. "Also now you will need to tell me a little about yourself since you know so much about me Kate."

A chuckle comes out of Kate's mouth. "I'm a lawyer, nothing fun about that. I'm not famous or anything. I don't call comic books my guilty pleasure because I never actually feel guilt, but I call them a secret joy. Comics don't exactly fit the high end fashionista I tend to be. But...you know, it's not that I'm ashamed of it, it's mostly just because people expect something of me, and as an overachiever, I like to deliver."

"I think I am a perpetual under achiever. I go with the flow and try to set goals within my means." Entertaining since it seemed then that his minor fame was a goal.

"A goal is a goal, regardless of your means. You're world traveler, a published comic book writer. I would hardly call that underachieving," Kate points out as she picks up some Archie trades. That's her classic pick, something she read as a kid and stopped reading for far too long. Again, it wasn't until Gray Harbor that she started picking it up again. There was something about the small town that was inspiring her to reclaim pieces of herself she hadn't thought of in years.

"Trust me, I did not grow up hearing that my writing would open doors. Hard work and belief in oneself can open doors." He laughs lightly. "So what brings you to Grey Harbor?"

"Hard work and belief in one's self? Now you're definitely failing at painting yourself as an underachiever, Wayne." Kate considers the question and replies, "I came looking for a fresh start, a simpler existence, a break from big city life."

"You will find it here, if you are looking for it. For those who are driven, I'm sure they can keep busy as well. I'm trying to decide which of these I am." He chuckles lightly.

"I'm sure you can be both if you want to be." Kate picks up the latest Firefly trade, just because she's enjoyed the short lived series and its movie. She already has four books in hand but is still browsing. "I mean, I'm still carefully considering my work, my place in this town."

Wayne reached into his pocket to retrieve a business card. "Well if you decide you are looking for more clients give me a call please. Do you happen to have your business card as well?" He smiles.

Kate puts her selected books down on the counter to prepare to pay for them before fishing out her own business card. "If you ever need legal advice on copyrights or protecting your intellectual property, licensing and things of that nature...it's not my specialty, but if I can't help, I can find someone who can." She smiles as they exchange cards.

"Sounds good, and now I have a number to call you on if I want to share coffee and story ideas." He grins.

"Would you make me sign an NDA or something? Because I'm totally telling everyone on Friendzone that I'm getting the exclusive news from the man himself," Kate teases him playfully as she hands a credit card over to pay for her purchases. Once the books purchased, she hands his book to Wayne with a pen from her purse. "You offered to sign it...to Kate, if you don't mind." She smiles.

He did promise. Taking his black pen out he wrote.
"To Kate, remember that hard work and dedication to oneself does not always make you an overachiever, it means you open doors for yourself. I can not wait to see what is on the other side."
He stylized his name as he always did and with a smile handed the copy back to here. "Its been my pleasure to meet you, we can always discuss if a NDA is necessary. " He laughs.

After reading his inscription, Kate smiles at Wayne with a bit of gratitude. "Thank you," she replies with a smile, "I was actually going to head out of here for some coffee to read these if you'd like to join me. I mean I've already read your stuff but I'm always good for a reread."

"Sounds good, let me go chat with the manager and shoot me a text with which place you picked." He nods and makes his way to the office.