Jeanne was furious! How could Pat think that she would leave this place! She really had grown to love the small, cozy bar and its occupants. The supes that frequented the Moon were usually very nice aside from a few exceptions. She didn't want to leave it, or Patrick.

The willowy, androgynous elf had become very important to her over the years. He had helped her though so many things. Failed relationships, losing friends, and even her mother being diagnosed with cancer. She owed him so much.

She was actually a little hurt that Pat would try to get rid of her like that.

Scowling at the counter top fiercely, she kept wiping the already spotless glass while Pat watched her steadily. Finally she looked up, meeting the stranger's eyes.
"So who are you?" she asked viciously.

Raising a brow, the dark-haired man said "I'm Raven. I… collect rare books." Jeanne snorted.

It figured.

She should have known that Patrick would find a job that she was actually interested in. Too bad she wasn't about to leave the Full Moon. She wouldn't leave Patrick without someone to confide in. He acted happy-go-lucky, but she knew that his extreme magnetism was nothing but a hassle for the willowy fae.

Pat had never told Jeanne exactly how old he was, but Jeanne knew that her friend was very old. And he was very powerful.
He tried to hide that fact from the people around him, and Jeanne let him believe that he had succeeded. Pat was like the brother she had never had, and she didn't care who he had been before she met him. All she knew is that she was one of the only people he called friend. And she wasn't about to take that away.

Jeanne glared at Raven, then turned her glare on Patrick, who grinned unrepentantly. Raven's face grew steadily darker, and when he finally spoke, his voice was filled with irritation.

"I'm looking for an assistant," he said abruptly. Jeanne raised an eyebrow and turned to face him.
"Good for you. Hope you find one. Bye now," she said dryly, making a shoo-ing motion with her hand. Pat snickered at the astonishment on Raven's face.

"Oh, did I forget to mention that? She's completely immune to the glamour. You won't be able to get her that way. She's way too stubborn for that."

Jeanne grimaced. "Well I think it's a good thing I'm immune to your glamour. If you two look this good without it, I think I'd hate to see what you look like with it."

Patrick was trying futilely to hold back his amusement.

He clapped the other fae on the back. "You'll need to actually talk with this one, Raven. She won't fall all over your face like the others."

Jeanne sighed, and turned to look Raven in the eye. "Look. I'm happy where I am. I don't know where Pat got this crazy idea that I need rescuing. I'm perfectly content to work here. Besides, who would keep mister happy-go-lucky here in check if I left?"

Raven nodded. "And the fact that you are far overqualified for this job doesn't bother you in the least?"

Jeanne shrugged. "With all the supes nowadays, it'd be impossible for me to get the job I had originally worked towards. Anything I can do, they can do faster and more efficiently. Plus, they don't need breaks like human workers."

The dark-haired fae nodded again like she had said what he expected her to say. "Well, I am prepared to pay you in a manner that I believe will be mutually beneficial. Also, while I am by no means short on money, I believe this way will be more tempting for you."

He reached into his suit and withdrew a small leatherbound tome. Jeanne tried to keep her eyes on Raven's, but her gaze was inevitably drawn to the book. When she finally gave in and focused on the book, her eyes almost bugged out of her head before she caught herself and schooled her expression into a faintly bored mask. But even then, her eyes fairly gleamed. What the man sitting across from her held in his hand strongly resembled the first volume of the Gutenburg Bible of 1456. That wasn't possible though. There were only a few of those in existence.

She calmed herself, turning to Pat. "It'll take more than a cheap ruse to get me to work for him Pat."

Raven's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "This is no ruse, I assure you. Would you like to see for yourself?" Jeanne scoffed openly at his denial. But since she did know what she was talking about when it came to the Gutenburg, she agreed. Holding out her hand, she waited as the other man placed the tome carefully in it. She opened it carefully, being careful to only open it as far as was necessary to see, making sure the spine was well supported. Even if it was a fake, that was no excuse for treating a book poorly.

She looked at the first page of actual content and counted the lines. 42. Okay, well if a forger had gotten that wrong, he wouldn't be a forger for long.

After going through several other tests, Jeanne was pale and sweating. She shakily placed the book back in Raven's hands. "That's for real isn't it? If it's a fake it's the damned best fake I've seen in a long time. Pat, you wouldn't lie to me about something this important, right?"

Pat shook his head, his smile fading to a more serious expression. "No, Jeannie. It's real. I wouldn't let him offer you anything less. Now that you know what he can offer you, can you honestly say that you would rather stay here? Keep in mind that I put a lot of effort into finding someone worthy of your talents and dedication. If I was against you leaving us here, would I have done that?"

Jeanne considered Pat's words slowly. Her brain was swirling with all that she had learned. If that was the type of book she would be offered, this man must be filthy rich. There were only about 21 copies of that book worldwide last time she had checked.

Jeanne shook her head. "I don't know Pat. I really don't." She turned to face Raven once again. "I'm sorry. Would you mind if I took a day or two to think this over?"

Raven nodded. "I see no reason to deny that request. Keep in mind that if you accept, I do possess the second volume as well. And if you'd like, that can be included as part of your payment."

Jeanne felt her knees buckle a little. The idea of a book that rare was… astonishing. And it made her brain hurt. She nodded to the other man.
"Why don't you go home now Jeannie," said Patrick kindly. "It's a lot to think about. I know. Just realize that whatever you choose to do, I will still be there for you. Don't think you can get rid of me that easily," he finished with a quick grin.

Jeanne nodded once again, and went to the back to take off her apron, forgetting the men's cups on the bar.

Pat raised an eye at Jeanne's obvious confusion. "You've made quite an impression my friend. I told you that the quickest way to her heart was books." Really books were the only things that Jeanne valued as much if not more than their friendship. Pat knew that. And he almost regretted introducing the two. But he consoled himself with the realization that she would be much happier working with Raven.
Downing his glass of ambrosia, he rose from his seat with a wild grin. "Well, I'll see you later Ray-ray. I think it's time for me to find a companion for tonight." And possibly one for the next few days and nights as well, he finished to himself. With a wicked grin on his lips and a sultry swing to his hips, he left the bar and Raven feeling pretty proud of himself.