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[thedreamthief]

Ronan tosses the ball into the air, catching it one-handed in his palm and watching as its insides swirl with black and purple and red. The mix curves and bends as Ronan squeezes its soft outsides, realigns in a way that Ronan knows has nothing to do with gravity as he tosses it into his other hand, a burst of yellow streaking through its inner galaxies once its airborne.

It settles once again into purples and blacks when it's caught in Ronan's other hand and Ronan keeps it there as he pushes open the front door of Graymark Books and steps inside.

The place isn't entirely empty, but it's not packed either and Ronan looks over the tops of the bookcases as he wanders, in search of a familiar face or two. It occurs to him after a few minutes that Jack's probably in school right now or whatever the equivalent might be in a place like Darrow or for a kid as special as Jack.

Luckily, it's Luke Ronan spots just then, making out his hair first and then his voice as he helps an older lady looking for books on car maintenance.

Ronan gives him a nod when Luke happens to glance up long enough to catch his eye, but hangs back, idly bouncing the soft ball off the side of the nearest book rack, grinning as the glitter inside swirls a lovely black and gold upon impact.

"Hey," he says once Luke's finished up with his customer, bouncing the ball again and catching it tight in one hand. "Jack around?"

Comments

[thedreamthief]

Ronan can't do every day, not with the animals to look after, but he can't deny he still has a lot of hours to kill most days, a lot of hours he spends locked inside his own head. Having an excuse to get out and do something, to be productive in a way Adam might even appreciate, to get to see Jack more often... it's all appealing.

"I can shelve and do inventory," he says because fuck it, even if he skipped most of his classes at Aglionby, he's still fucking educated. It can't be that difficult. A thought occurs to him then, brow furrowing as he asks, "Do you sell textbooks?"

[notaretriever]

"I do," Luke agrees and he wonders if he should ask when Ronan has just said he's not interested in taking classes. The textbook might not be for him, but a person doesn't have to take classes in order to be interested in educational texts. Luke has no traditional education himself, but he's read a good number of textbooks in order to learn everything he can.

"On a variety of subjects," he says. "And if you're looking for something I don't have, I can likely have it ordered in and I generally worry less about making money the way a university bookstore might." And that in itself means he makes a good deal off the textbooks. Students know he'll sell them for cheaper, making less of a profit margin, but more of them buy from him than they used to.

[thedreamthief]

"Do I get some kind of discount?" Ronan asks then, lips curved in a faint grin to show that he's largely joking. Because it's not like Ronan needs a fucking discount, not when he dream up as much money as he wants.

But Adam could use it, Adam who refuses to ever take a dime of Ronan's money but might consider a discount if Ronan's working for it. And it's Adam who'll need the textbooks. Ronan doesn't have a clue where he buys them now, probably online somewhere unless he can rent them from the school library. Adam knows all the tricks Ronan's never needed to bother to learn.

[notaretriever]

"Sure," Luke says with a laugh. "You can have an employee discount."

He doesn't make mention of the fact that he's prone to simply giving books away to people who really need them. With Reid's income they make enough money that he isn't too worried about paying for the rent on the store property, but it's nice to know he makes money as well. Still, he sometimes can't seem to help himself. There's often a bin of books outside the store he doesn't think he'll be able to sell for very much, second hand paperbacks someone had donated, or anything really, and there's a sign above it that tells people anyone can take one. Anyone at all.

All he cares about is knowing the people who want to read are given the opportunity.

[thedreamthief]

Small as it is, it feels like the final weight to tip the scales and Ronan gives a definitive nod and very nearly smiles, head still cocked as he looks at Luke.

"Got yourself a deal then," he says, standing up a little taller and holding out his hand for a shake. He figures Luke has his own truck, wonders if it's a pick-up or like a moving truck of some kind. He knows how to drive both so it's not a big deal either way, but he's curious. He wonders if Luke would let him dream up any alterations if they're needed. "When should I start?"

[notaretriever]

"How does next week sound?" he asks. "That'll give me a chance to look at the scheduled inventory and shipments I have and I can see which days I would need the most help."

He can do it by himself, he's managed this far, but he has to admit it'll be nice to have the help. With Ronan doing certain things, it'll free Luke's time up in the evenings so that he can spend more time with Jack and Reid. He usually has to leave the pick ups to after store hours because he's the only one working, but Ronan can do it whenever is convenient.

[thedreamthief]

It sounds as good as any other time and Ronan responds with another quick nod before untucking the dream ball from under his arm and handing it over.

"And you're cool with Jack coming along in the truck sometimes?" he asks, just to be sure. Because half the appeal to even taking this job is getting more time with Jack. It's stupid maybe that one of his favorite people in this entire goddamn city is a five year old, but Ronan refuses to feel about it. He's a good kid. And, unlike most everyone else, he seems to actually like Ronan.

[notaretriever]

"Of course," Luke says as he takes the ball from Ronan's hand. "I trust you with him."

He isn't going to do anything stupid or dangerous when Jack is in his care, Luke absolutely knows that. There is no question in his mind that Jack is safe when he's with Ronan and that's the only thing that really matters when he considers who Jack spends his time with.

"He'll love it," he adds. "That's the important bit."