that perfect tranquillity of life ( OPEN )

[flecks]

Date & Time: April 10, late afternoon & evening
Location: The library
Characters: Leo Baskerville & YOU.
Summary: There's some weird guy sitting on the floor, come trip over him or be weirded out at him because hey, there are perfectly fine seats in the library!!
Warnings: idek

[ When Leo isn't busy with the extra training the Initiative forces him to do and the community service at the orphanage, he can be found reading in the library. Reading books now isn't the same as it was before. He can't quite enjoy it like he used to, but it's the only way of coping he knows and so he keeps on reading. Not knowing what else to do, it's easy to fall back on old habits. Old habits die hard after all and his only escape from reality had always been books.

The Initiative library isn't nearly as grand as the one in Lutwidge Academy or even the Nightray family library, but it's plenty spacious and there's a lot of chairs to sit in, at a table or otherwise. However, Leo sits on the floor. Also out of force of habit. The library at his orphanage had been quite small with not much room for any chairs at all, but no one ever came there and that's why Leo loved it and willingly resorted to sitting on the floor. It's become so normal to him that he has actually come to prefer sitting on the floor when he's reading, no matter how comfortable a chair or bed is. That hasn't changed here either.

He's found a nice beanbag though, but rather than sit on it, he leans back against it. The beanbag is big enough to hide him out of sight and he's placed it near some bookshelves so he has new books within reach. Unfortunately this also means he's made himself an obstacle for the unwitting and he's too caught up in his current reading to realize it. ]

Comments

[flecks]

[ Leo too is catching up on Holy Knight. In fact, he's doing so right now! Luckily he's ahead of everyone else and so he's on the last few volumes which shouldn't be missed for a bit. However, unfortunately for Oz, he's actually grabbed a few of the earlier volumes to reference some of the older stuff as he reads through the things new to him.

So, good news is that Leo doesn't even notice Oz as he's too caught up in the latest plot twist. Bad news is that the small stack of Holy Knight volumes next to him might just contain the volume you need . . . ]

[velveteened]

( he does carefully step around leo and, relieved, continues on his way.

only to return a few minutes later. and - yes, there they are, the additional early volumes of holy knight. it's tempting to just take them and walk away, but he's already seen what leo's temper is like.

nothing for it, then. )

Ah...Leo?

[flecks]

[ It's a very wise decision, Oz.

Leo does notice the footsteps returning this time, but he doesn't pay it much mind. Not even when a familiar voice speaks up. It only pulls him away from the story a little, but not quite enough and as such he replies without even looking up. ]

What is it, Oz? [ Actually he could easily guess what it is, but he's too focused on his reading to bother trying. ]

[velveteened]

( he's never actually tried distracting leo from his reading before, but he's heard enough to still make him tread carefully. )

I need Volume 9.

( and the ones after. but let's start small. )

[flecks]

[ Oz will find that not only can it be a harrowing experience, it can also be a really difficult one. ]

Is that so . . .

[ Did Leo even register the question? It's hard to tell from the way he merrily keeps on reading, but his utterly absent-minded tone might have said enough. ]

[velveteened]

( long pause. )

And Volume 10.

[flecks]

[ Sorry, you've waited too long.

He doesn't even have any words to spare anymore, there's just a hum in reply. If it even can be called a reply, that is. ]

[velveteened]

( TESTING THIS )

And 11, and I'm adopting you a cat.

[flecks]

Mm-hm.

[ Well then, rest assured he's not listening in the slightest. ]

[velveteened]

As a token of our friendship! I think I'll name it Cake.

( this is pretty fun )

You don't mind, right?

[flecks]

[ He vaguely registers the word 'friend' and it's the only thing he really picks up, but it gets an almost instant reaction of: ]

No. [ Not that he knows what he's replying to, but he heard the word 'friend' so 'no' should be safe, right? ]

[velveteened]

( it's so hard not to laugh, but this is the most fun thing he's done all day. )

I'm sure you'll get along well. We can even hold a party!

[flecks]

[ Wow Oz, how sad is your life if this is the most fun thing you've done?

Quite suddenly Leo's head snaps up and he seems to meet Oz's gaze dead on with a frown. Oh no, could your fun be over . . . ]

[velveteened]

( FREEZES! oh no is his fun over so soon...

and then he smiles. )

Hello, Leo.

[flecks]

[ Actually, it's a false alarm. There's a moment of wordless frowning before he just as abruptly glances back down at his book, muttering to himself. ]

Ah, that's right. He died back in volume 12. [ Turns out he was just trying to remember something! But at least his attention was away from reading itself long enough that he does register the greeting, so have a belated but still distracted: ]

Hello.

1/3

[velveteened]

( LEO ARE YOU ACTUALLY SPOILING HIM WHILE YOU IGNORE HIM )

[velveteened]

( REALLY )

no i lied

[velveteened]

( r e a l l y )

[velveteened]

( raptor shrieks )

done

[velveteened]

At least it can't be Edgar this time...

[flecks]

[ Sorry but you might as well not be there to him!!

And at least he didn't mention any names. On the bright side, the raptor shrieking finally caught his attention and he looks back at Oz and actually sees him this time. ]

Oh, Oz. [ It's like he only just noticed you now or something. ]

[velveteened]

Hello, Leo.

( wow look at how irritated he sounds, you'd almost think it's his third introduction or something. )

I need to borrow some of these.

[flecks]

[ Oh my, what a temper all of a sudden. Let's push that a bit for his own amusement.

You've had your fun, now he gets to have his. Or something. ]

That's too bad, I'm busy with them right now.

[velveteened]

( omg. he gestures at the stacks of books he's clearly not reading. )

Not with the earlier volumes! Some of us aren't as caught up yet, you know.

( some of us lost ten years to the abyss! )

[flecks]

[ Not his problem, bro. ]

I still need them.

[ Not really, but he's just antagonizing on purpose at this point. Some might be able to tell. ]