Swift Sorcery

Chapter 3

            "Any particular pickup time?" Mokalen glanced up at Kiri as he typed quickly at a little computer.

            "He just said he'd come later." Kiri took the confirmation receipt and scanned it briefly until he found the line he was looking for: Served Today By Sago Mokalen.

            "Sago, right?" He said. Sago looked at him and took off his glasses, tucking them into his front pocket.

            "Yes. I'm Sago. Something else I can help you with?"

            "Yeah. I was wondering if you were free to meet up later to...um..." Kiri kicked himself internally for his lack of game. Too much time out of practice.

            "To...discuss a prescription? Of your own, maybe?" Sago asked in what he assumed was a helpful tone.

            "Yes, exactly," Kiri nodded firmly. "Since I want to discuss the particulars with you."

            "Alright," Sago said, checking the time. "I'm off at 5. Meet me at the little cafe next door, then." He gave Kiri a final nod and then went off to continue his work, leaving Kiri alone at the counter. After a few moments Kiri finally had the presence of mind to leave and he left the pharmacy, suddenly feeling much more enthusiastic than he had before. With a few hours to kill he decided to head home, eat lunch, shower, and get ready to meet with the mysterious hottie he'd just met.

            Kiri was early to the cafe, at least he thought so, having left to give himself plenty of time to get lost if he did. He'd even changed into a nice pair of jeans and a shirt that wasn't a t-shirt and was feeling proud of himself. At least until he walked into the cafe and saw that Sago had not only beat him here, but was better dressed. He was still wearing his glasses and reading from a smart-looking book that Kiri couldn't readily identify. When the bell sounded as the door opened Sago noticed Kiri come in and waved him over to the table he sat at, putting the book away.

            "Didn't mean to interrupt." Kiri sat opposite Sago and gave him a smile.

            "Oh no, not at all. I come here after work all the time. I got off early so I was just doing some reading."

            "What were you reading?"

            "Unpopular Skeletons. It's a novel by an author I follow." Sago nodded his head and sipped from the glass of water before him.

            "I have never heard of it." Kiri had decided ahead of time that lying was not an option, since he had a feeling Sago was too smart to be fooled.

            "Well, it's quite good. I recommend it thoroughly." Kiri had been right. Sago was very, very well educated. "So," Sago started, "your prescription. Tell me about your needs, what you've been recommended."

            "Oh um," and a panic filled Kiri. Lie? Tell the truth and sound like a liar? Both? All of the above? Neither? "I, um, don't have a prescription," he admitted, cringing to himself.

            "Most people don't have an actual prescription. So tell me about your symptoms. Or what you've been recommended." Sago lifted his glass to drink more from the glass of water, watching Kiri for his response.

            "The truth is," Kiri started, swallowing the mouthful of spit that had accumulated in his mouth, "I don't have," he paused, "I mean there's nothing wrong with me." Kiri noticed Sago had put down his glass. "I just wanted to talk to you!"