Bookstore of Light!

[imaglyphwitch]

Who:Luz, Lexi and Big Open to all!
What: Luz is keeping the bookstore open to celebrate Hanukkah
When: back dated from the 18th and ending the the 26th!
Where: Bookstore (Willful Machine)



Luz was adamant she get this right, so she obviously would ask Lexi a few questions before she finally started keeping the bookstore open starting the eighteenth. She had a menorah in the store window, lighting each candle as each day passed. They usually closed at five on the weekdays, but Luz changed it just for this week: they were open until 8, or at least until everyone decided to leave.

Luz had the kid section now with books about the Maccabees and how they were able to reclaim the temple so they could rededicate it. to symbolize this, Luz had a few carefully rearranged "debris" that you could start building into forts to symbolize the temple's return to form. She'd also arranged tables and chairs so that people could sit and have the Latkes with applesauce with Sufganiyot on the side. Luz had luckily picked up on frying with Reaper's help, so she made sure to have a new batch each day!

Luz had also small classes on how to make clay Dreidels on the second day, and set to showing kids how to make some of their own, taking time to show them the symbols and how they were etched into the sides and what they meant.

Luz also had geldt! Well, chocolate ones, obviously, but the chocolate was real! She'll pass that out in the middle of the week, with a small present!

She'd also set up a little tin to collect for the orphans in Trench, but that would be up all week. Luz would make sure to turn that in to Shiro later on.

On all days though, Luz would take thirty minutes to talk a little about the holiday, reflecting on what it meant to have a place of worship to call home, and how much that meant. Just because you weren't particularly religious, Luz argued, didn't mean that a simple place like a reading nook wasn't your own private temple, and you cherished it the same way!

[[OOC: Feel free to add your character in on ANY day. They could pop in to have a Latke, say hi to Luz and Lexi or whomever, and hey, you're still in a bookstore! Take a moment to read in the corner or watch the festivities!]]

Comments

Lexi, store assistant owner

[thisislife]

Lexi was wearing outside of her usual preppy garb into a dark, navy blue dress with white piping, stockings, and loafers with a white Peter Pan collar.

There was a menorah ready for its first day prayer. Lexi took a deep breath and sing-sang out the First Blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו
וְצִוָּֽנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz was expecting Lexi to read prayer, because she obviously knew more about this than most anyone. What she was NOT expecting was Lexi to read out in Yiddish, which Luz had to remind herself to chastise her girlfriend for holding out on her for!

At least, that was what she was telling herself. Luz's face was halfway between entranced and dreamy, listening to her girlfriend recite.

[survivalthroughhate]

After hearing a little bit about the holiday of Hanukkah from a network post, Maul became intrigued. He went to the store to find some books that could better help him understand the history behind this holiday and why the traditions that were observed had come about in the first place.

He hid off in the corners of the bookstore, never at ease when there were a lot of people around, and just observed the people milling about. The children certainly seemed to be having a good time. As for him, he had a few books from the religious section piled up next to him as he found a comfy spot to sit and read up on the Jewish religion and culture. Really, it was all quite fascinating.

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz noticed Darth Maul (how could she not, really) but chose to let him be by himself at first, since she was still leading a few more discussions and mingling with people. After half an hour though, Luz comes by with some cookies and some hot chocolate.

"Hey, Darth Maul. Would you like a refreshment?"

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul looked up from a book that gave an analysis of certain sections of the Torah when he heard someone speaking to him. His eyes brightened up when he saw who it was. He nodded. "Something to drink would be nice."

He picked up a cup of hot chocolate, letting the warmth of it permeate his scarred hands.

[imaglyphwitch]

"Ok! Looks like you found some of it yourself. Tell me, are you a fan of a bit of sugar? If you are, I have something you can add to make it a little better!"

It was marshmallows, but she was happy enough that Darth Maul was reading up on the holiday.

[survivalthroughhate]

"No, thank you," he said politely. "My species doesn't have the same fondness for sweet things that human beings do." Zabraks had taste buds that were more-aligned with that of a cat's than anything else, being primarily carnivorous in nature.

"It appears you've had a number of people show up," he observed. "That has to be good for business."

[imaglyphwitch]

"Got you!" No sugar for Darth Maul: Luz made a mental note of that if she ever made him something whenever he came over to the house. "What sort of fondness DOES your species like then? Sour? Savory?"

Luz by now had an understanding of the palates of her housemates.

"Oh, that's just a bonus!" Luz said, grinning. "I wanted to get more people in to celebrate this religious holiday that Lexi has, and unfortunately, there aren't too many people who are of the same sect. So I threw this together to get people interested and help her celebrate. I really should have asked Mr. Pines to lead the prayer, but I haven't talked to him in some time."

[survivalthroughhate]

"Savory," he explained. "We mostly eat meat for sustenance, so flavoring it with this that make it savory makes it taste very satisfying for us. Something like beef jerky is the equivalent of candy for a Zabrak." Not that Maul had gotten much of that particular treat as a child but he still occasionally indulged even as an adult. After all, life was too short not to eat candy once in a while.

"I hadn't heard much about the Jewish religion or customs before now," the Sith Lord said. "But it is always a good thing to learn about different cultures and the traditions they have." One didn't grow up in a galaxy with as many varied and interesting species around as Maul did without developing at least a passing interest in the way others did even did their day-to-day customs.

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz looked thoughtful. "I mean. I guess I'll just give you some of the fried food then. I figure the Sufganiyot would be something you wouldn't like. Luckily, we DO have fried foods too. Just no pork."

Luz nodded. "There's not a lot of Jewish people from Earth that are here. There's Lexi of course, and Mr. Pines, and there WAS Kyle. Kinda wish he was still here. He would have liked this. I'm actually learning a lot too."

[survivalthroughhate]

"I'm sure whatever you have will be fine. All this food just gives me more incentive to stay and read." Not that Maul needed much but eventually he would have gotten hungry and had to leave to go find something to eat. With the food right at the establishment, there was no doubt he'd continue to linger.

"Yes, he would have," Maul said in a wistful tone, a sad look coming over his face. He really did miss Kyle, for he'd always been one of Maul's biggest supporters in his quest to do better. There had never been a moment where he doubted Maul could become more than just the psychopathic Sith Lord he'd been for so much of his life.

[imaglyphwitch]

"Good to know. I'm not exactly at my kitchen at home, so this is all we have. It's pretty good though!"

Luz had been sure to fry up enough food that there would at least be some leftovers they'd have to trudge back to the house.

"I'm doing this for Lexi, but I'm kinda manifesting Kyle here in spirit. He would have loved this, and probably would have been amused that when I finally got a girlfriend, she'd be Jewish. Even when he was here, there weren't many of us with that spiritual path. But hopefully, Lexi gets to feel a little more at home."

[survivalthroughhate]

"May you have many sales of books today from this event," Maul said in the tone of someone hoping to invoke a blessing with their words.

"I certainly believe he would have enjoyed such a thing. Perhaps he can sense it still from the ocean." There was some comfort in knowing that the people who left were still out there somewhere even if their presence was no longer physically there with them in the city.

[imaglyphwitch]

"Here's hoping!" Luz said brightly, giving him a thumbs up. "Also hope people get interested in the holiday too!"

Clearly Luz had made it a mission that other people might learn a little something about Lexi's religious path.

"Yeah, the ocean," Luz said, looking a little sad. "Bet he's probably have loved Lexi too. She has that type of humor."

[siriusly]

[a book store, huh... far less intimidating than the Archives - probably less creepy taxidermy, too! he hopes.

whether there's a bell set to jingling when he opens the door, his omen announces their presence as his claws tip-tap on the floor and he lets out a little bark. hello, we're here!! now what's all this?

maybe there'll be a good book to pick up for Jun...]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Yup, no taxidermy! Just batkittens and friendly displays of Christmas, Hanukkah and Yule! Luz was trying to make the place as accessible as she could.

But someone does note the omen: Luz's timberwolf Tempest, who gives an answering bark, almost lazily].

Hi! Can I help you with something?

[siriusly]

[the decor in here is quite the contrast to the bitter, grim cold outside...he could almost imagine feeling warmer. but he doesn't have a moment to consider it, because Magnet, spotting another canine, bounds over to greet the wolf. jeez...]

Uh-- [he looks toward the girl.] Oh, ah... [he hesitates, the door half-closed behind him as he idles in the threshold.

right...words. let's try this again:] H'lo. Juh, mm... [shoot. his brow knits.] Sorr', um. Tal-talkin's...ruff. Uh.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Tempest raises her head, but doesn't overreact and instead gives the omen an appreciative bump on the nose].

Come on in, my dude! It's cold out there!

[She ushers him in and shuts the door].

Would you like some hot chocolate to warm you up?

[siriusly]

[while the omens give each other doggy hellos, Manabu takes an unsteady step inside so the girl can close the door behind him. he utters a faint, appreciative noise, rubbing at his arms to stave off some of the lingering chill that's not already in his blood.]

Hm-? Oh, uh... How much?

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz closes the door, and gives Tempest a look to let her omen know to play nice, though she hardly needed to do that: Tempest was very laid back today, owing to the fact Luz wasn't getting into trouble right now].

A pint OK? I can give a little more if you like.

[siriusly]

N--uh, kuh-cost. Sorry. [words bad this season.]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz gave him a grin].

Tell you what. It's on the house, just make sure you try and find a book you might want to buy, ok?

[siriusly]

[blink.

beat.]

...Mn. Okay. [that was the conceit in coming in, right? he'll accept that.]

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz chuckled to herself. That last part was tacked on more for trying to get people into books. Obviously Luz wouldn't be mad if he wound up not getting a book: the hot chocolate was so people could get nice and cozy while they read a good book!

And of course, there was still Hannukah, which Luz was only happy to celebrate for her coworker/girlfriend].

What's your name, sir?

[siriusly]

[Manabu gives Magnet a passing glance, just to make sure the little guy's behaving himself, before looking to Luz. he hesitates, utters an uncertain sound, and then slowly feels around for his omni. he figures this'll be easier than trying to vocalize...]

He-here. [once he's got a blank message open, he holds it out and points toward his name. user: Manabu Yuuki. username: yuuki.]