You, and Me, and A Wildebeest Makes Three (Shin)

The Full Circle had been bubbling that day. All the patrons were excited. To think that they'd be hosting a book signing by the famed author Debbie Wildebeest! It was a great honor. Back during the Mutant Registration act, she'd been one of the forerunners for mutant rights, living outside the country in her home town of Jos, Africa. She'd written many a fiery letter to American politicians during the time, preaching the importance of peace and brotherhood. She spoke of how we all live on the same planet, under the same stars, and how the color of one's skin makes as much difference in judging the content of one's character as the texture of one's tail.

Her words of wisdom stretched beyond talks of peace and brotherhood to realms of holism, and the understanding that we are all connected as interacting wholes. Humans and mutants are something more than elementary particles, connected, and stronger, working as one. And these were just a few of the many things she spoke of in her new book, You, Me, and Mutants Makes Three.

And yes, she was a Wildebeest shifter with a long dignified face. As she sat at the table, signing her books, Aurum tried hard not to laugh.

Not that there was anything funny about a prominent mutant's rights activist, who'd been on shows like 60 Minutes, NBC News, and Larry King Live. Nope. Nothing funny at all... It's just that she was a Wildebeest woman rocking a black power suit with shoulder pads that weren't really needed, and hair done up in curled rows. She kind of looked like the horse-faced traditional judges you saw in history textbooks about the civil war.

The good thing about book signing promotions, though, was this; customers flocked from all corners of the city to attend highly publicized events. That meant there were a lot of people thirsty for coffee, which meant more work for him, which meant less time spent smiling weakly as his attention diverted elsewhere. He topped off another cappuccino, and all was good... until Shin opened his big mouth.

"Hey, Aurum. Things look like they're cooling down over there at the coffee bar. The line for the book signing's starting to pile up. Can you help out with customers while we do this? I'm a little shortchanged on extra hands, see?" Tetsuya Shinbo held up the wiggling fingers of his right hand. Aurum glanced at the rapidly-thinning line with narrowed eyes.

"Sure thing, Shin. Just let me finish helping these folks out. Here's your order, sir. And yours, ma'am. And..." The line emptied into the streets and the tables. Aurum slipped through the swinging door separating the bar from the main room.

His hands slipped into his pockets as he walked through the shop, nearly whistling nonchalance.

"Oh, can you help me find a book on Norse fairy tales for my kid?" A woman with hot pink hair and face-piercings popped up like a pimple in front of him.

"Sure thing, ma'am. They're right over here." He pointed the way. She squirted through the aisle like an arrow shot from his aim. A balding man in a white business suit that looked a little too sweaty around the pits tapped him on the arm.

"I need a copy of Habits of the Heart!" He sounded like a guy who'd trained his pipes in the stock market's game. Aurum smiled and directed him like a choreographer through the steps.

"That would be near the philosophy aisle. Take yourself right through this section and turn left. It'll be on your right."

He hobbled off, another thankless cause.

"Excuse me," Jenni said once she reached the young man. "Could you tell me where the parenting books are?"

Aurum turned, and saw an angel... or perhaps she was a witch. Long brown hair, lips like the moon. For less than a second, he met her eyes head on and lost himself in a cauldron of brown. Less than a second was enough. He was in love~

"Certainly." Hazel eyes sparked back at her, fighting her spell with a magic of his own. “In fact, I’ll show you. My name’s Aurum. And you?” He offered his hand.

Jenni. Her name was Jenni.

Aurum's lips drew a smile like the line of the horizon as he leaned forward to plant a light kiss on the back of her hand. As he slipped back, he met her eyes and never broke the connection.

"Charmed."

His hand fell away as he turned. "Now follow me, Jenni. The parenting section awaits." Wait, the parenting section? Realization set in as he led. "So, you're a mother?" He added conversationally. That meant she had a kid. How old? "What kind of book are you looking for? Potty training, inner discipline? The Portable Pediatrician?" He flipped open the book in his hands. On the cover, a woman held a baby as a toddler snuck his peevish head around the edge of her back. Aurum glanced from the pages back to Jenni, waiting for an answer. Maybe it was a baby, maybe it was a teen. "Or are you looking for something else? And just so you know, I happen to be a big brother with an opinion of my own on a few of these books. So ask away if you have any questions. I'll do my best to answer truthfully." He added the last part with a light laugh.

Work? His ears perked.

"Ah, yes. The summer should be good for that. What kind of work do you do?" Aurum asked conversationally as his hand danced across the bookcase, thumbing down the spines. His eyes lit up on a title. He reached out to grab a thin book lined in bright orange, and turned it in his hands.

"I think this book should help you out there." The title read 'Positive Discipline: The First Three Years'. On the cover, a baby marched. Aurum looked up to meet her gaze. "I've heard good reviews. Not only does it talk of managing children, but it delves into managing one's self. Really interesting." He tilted his head. Another book found its way off the shelf into his hands.

"As for potty training... we have a DVD on potty training with Elmo from Sesame street for the kid. We also have one for parents, 'Stress-Free Potty Training: A Commonsense Guide'. Those could work well together. Personally, I'd suggest the guide."

He held the two books out for her and set them in her hands. "I've always found guides more useful than videos when it came to things like that. The specific, easy to follow advice is helpful... somehow a bit calming. And there's always the good fallback for storytime, A Potty for Me!"

A softly-drawn image of a cutout paper child wagged on the cover of the book he held up in one hand. Aurum flipped it open affably, screwing up his eyes to get to the crux of the tale. "The cutely-drawn cartoon images really help children connect to the characters, and understand that it's okay. Everybody poops. Yeah, I seem to remember Ami reading this when she was 2..." He looked up at her with a smirk. Real good summer reading right there. "So, any hits?"

“Oh? Tort law? You’ve had some practice in the practice?” Aurum cocked his head. So she was in law as well as politics, and a mother of at least one. Fascinating. “I’ve always had a bit of trouble understanding some of the precedents for the cases in that field. Mainly, it’s a question of logistics here or there. The basic premise is easy enough to follow.”

He laughed. “I just can’t get why some people do the frivolous things they do. And vicarious liability…?” Aurum shook his head. “I’m not sure if it’s fair to sue when the defendant in question isn’t clear… or when it’s something like the burglar suing the victim of robbery for leaving a knife sitting out in the open. There are some pretty weird cases that have happened in the past… although I guess I can respect the people who claim it’s about the theory of effective risk allocation.” He raised his hands in an acceptance of reality.

“I guess it’s just a case-by-case criteria of evaluation for the defense. Er… I guess I’m off topic. Let's get those rung up at the counter for you. Was there anything else you were looking for today, Jenni? Miss Wildebeest is doing a book-signing, if you're interested in mutant-human relations..." He took a step towards the line to the front desk, and turned his head to offer a sheepish look to her, like he didn't get all the hype.

They'd certainly hit it off with a topic. She was a politician, and she'd studied law. Rather than practice, though, she'd chosen politics. He respected her for that. She knew her stuff, and her logic was sound. Many politicians these days failed both fields. She had found her balance between the two.

"You're right." Aurum replied. He momentarily held his chin, index finger brushing against the stubbled start of a five-o-clock shadow. "Mutant human relations truly is a debated topic. Right now we stand in a store that's felt the brunt of anti-mutant sentiments. A raging fire burned the last Full Circle to the floor... that's why there's such poignancy in Miss Wildebeest's coming here. In fact, I think I'll join you in the line." He smiled. "I've got to get a copy for myself."

It seemed they'd reached a fork in the conversation, and Aurum didn't want to let it end there. He nodded towards the line, then spoke his piece. "You know, I'm studying to be a defense attorney myself. Any words of advice you can give to me on that while we wait?"

The line was about eight people long, now. Eight shuffling people moving at a snail's pace as the author held her pen in hoof and scrawled out looping words. Aurum took a step forward as the line moved up.

“Practice,” he nodded patiently. “Lately, the only practice I’ve gotten out of the classroom… was checking out things on the scene of the crime.” The back of his head tensed as he retreated through the memories of the scene. The way everything clicked into place, the way the chaos played out like a slide show. He’d watched the police as they moved through the sordid tumble, gathering pertinent data and doing their best. But that wasn’t the kind of thing he wanted to talk about here or now…

“I suppose looking at crime scenes is more the prosecution’s job than the defense… but how would I get court room experience outside the courtroom now? Do they… do trial cases for lawyers? Or is it all about teaching us to think on our feet. We memorize all these legal firsts and rulings, but we’re never expected to parrot them out, just find order amidst the chaos. I guess…” He shook his head with a laugh. His eyes seemed to light up as they met hers. “Maybe learning both sides of the world would help me weight my words. You say you studied to be a lawyer first. Are there any overlaps between the two?”

The line shifted and the man in front of him took a step forward. Miss Wildebeest raised her horns. "Next." He moved with the line, still focusing on Jenni's face.

"It's the same with some lawyers, I'm afraid. Only instead of reelections, they want victories. They force through trials with the finish line in their sights, and forget that what they're racing to has an impact beyond their own lives. It's... unpalatable, to say the least."

Aurum cast a glance towards the revolving doors for a moment, and studied the glare. Another person spun those gates on their way out to the street. Through the window, the daylight burned a foggy blaze. A group of three on the sidewalk walked by, laughing amongst themselves. Smoke trailed from the cigarette propped between the middle-man's lips. Pulling it away, he let out a tumbling whirl of gray. Aurum took a thoughtful breath and lowered his head.

"I wonder if there are any lawyers who are offering apprenticeships right now. I'll bet I could get some court room experience if I studied under someone with skill."