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[Color=AEECD5][b]Time:[/b][/color] Late Afternoon
[Color=AEECD5][b]Location:[/b][/color] Ember Grove Pawn
[Color=AEECD5][b]Interaction with:[/b][/color] Mac (pawn shop owner)

Eli used his break time to head over to the small pawn shop which sat conveniently right near both Axelei’s and the local bowling alley. A bright red sign read Ember Grove Pawn, while numerous smaller signs promised ‘fast cash’ and ‘we buy gold.’ The windows were lined with bars, and the sturdy door chimed as he entered. The shop's owner was a large bearded man with an expression that told you he did not tolerate nonsense. Camera’s tracked his movement through the shop, though Eli knew that the security measures one could see were not the full extent of the measures that the owner, [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f6/61/fd/f661fd0aaddc48649256134245f21ab5.jpg]Mac[/url], took to prevent any sort of theft in his place of business. Like most things in Ember Grove there was more than meets the eye to the pawn shop as well. For those who knew how to ask there was more than just the second hand jewelry and collection of pawned goods that could be bought here. 

[Color=AEECD5]“I’m looking for something a bit more peculiar.”[/color] Eli said as he approached Mac who gave a single nod before leading him to the back room. 

The back room of Ember Grove Pawn held a collection of goods that would only confuse the local authorities but held things that many of the supernatural creatures of Ember Grove would find dangerous and even deadly. A dusty locked cabinet contained a variety of potions, many of which were likely outright banned by various covens. Other displays held a variety of cursed and enchanted objects, most of which were beyond what he could recognize and held little interest to Eli. A pair of werewolf pelts were hung on the wall, and Eli noted that the last time he’d been back here he was almost certain he’d seen three. Eli briefly wondered who’d bought one, and for what purpose but like many things involving shady dealings, he figured it was probably better not to know. He certainly knew better than to ask. 

Based on the few times he’d seen Mac handle silver bullets he was confident the man was not a werewolf, but beyond that whether he was a supernatural creature or just a human with connections remained a mystery. It didn’t seem to matter anyhow, Mac held no allegiance to any faction within Ember Grove, other than to himself and to money. He knew of Mac and his backroom from years ago, Holy Saviors often bought guns from him. None of the guns sold at the front of the store, or course, for those were all legal and traceable, but for the right price Mac was always able to get just about anything a customer requested. 

“What’ll it be, kid?” Mac asked with his usual gruff tone. 

[Color=AEECD5]“UV rounds.”[/color] Eli replied doing his best not to let his gaze wander the collection of oddities any longer.

“Again? You know with all those vampires you’ve been hunting you could make a nice bit of cash if you bring me back a few teeth.” Mac said as he slid over the box of ammunition. Eli picked up the box, taking a second to slide it open and glance at the soft blue glow the UV rounds emitted before closing the box. He took the money from his pocket and handed it to Mac.

[Color=AEECD5]“Thanks for the tip, but I’m not one for taking trophies.”[/color] He said, refusing the offer, not for the first time. Much like the werewolf pelts that hung on the walls, Eli also never asked what one would even want vampire fangs for. There were only so many glimpses into the darker side of the supernatural world that he could process at a time for the sake of his own sanity. 

“You know some of Xavier’s boys were in here asking about you not too long ago. Seemed a bit upset that you’ve been in town for so long without stopping by to see ‘em. Told ‘em I’d pass that along if I happened to run into you.” Mac added.

[Color=AEECD5]“What’d you tell them?”[/color] Eli asked, the box of ammunition clanked slightly as it gave away the slight tremor in his hand as he fumbled to slide it into his pocket. 

“You know I don’t discuss my customers. But, if you decide you need anything a bit stronger than those UV rounds, I’ve got a few things I’d be willing to part with. Maybe for some fangs, or a nice wolf pelt, or something more valuable. Just something to think about, next time you’re out hunting.” Mac said, a further extension on a long standing offer. 

[Color=AEECD5]“Thanks for the tip, but I’m not sure I’m up for the extra work.”[/color] Eli said before heading out, declining the offer as amicably as possible. 

What Mac really wanted was another hunter willing to help him add to his connection in the backroom. It was an offer Mac had made to Eli when he’d first came back into town stocking up on hunter gear. Mac wanted trophies from supernatural creatures, and if Eli should ever find himself back in the witch hunting business, Mac wanted mystical items as well. The offer was easy to turn down, at first, but the longer he stayed in Ember Grove the more it felt like unseen threats were constantly looming, and the more it seemed like just a gun and a handful of special bullets wasn’t anywhere close to enough. The longer he stayed in Ember Grove the more tempting the offer became, the more obvious it became that Mac certainly had things that could prove more useful than glowing bullets. Even as the temptation grew the fear of what agreeing to such an offer would cost him kept him from accepting. How much more of his humanity could he afford to lose? 

Eli kept his mind focused on all reasons why Mac’s offer was out of the question as he walked back to Alexei’s. He stopped about halfway there to smoke a cigarette near the bowling alley to calm his nerves. It wasn’t the money that made the offer more tempting this time, it was the thought that there might be some way to either stop Father Xavier or at the very least keep him and The Holy Saviors far from him that made such a disturbing offer more appealing. There was also the fear that he was powerless to stop something he had once helped grow into the horrible thing it now was, or even worse that he would fall back in with The Holy Saviors, and the knowledge that if he did he certainly didn’t have the strength to leave twice.