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

[bloodyashes]

You as well.

[Firm and let go - very polite, yes. Just wait till you see how he deals with Elliot, and that illusion will be hopelessly shattered.]

Any advice on getting him to do the dishes?

[flecks]

[ The reply gets a nice polite nod too even! And anyone who can manage to put up with Elliot regardless of how is okay in Leo's book, really. The question though . . . now that actually earns an amused smile. ]

Getting him to do anything can be tough, but hitting him usually works. [ Servant of the year award goes to Leo, clearly. ]

[bloodyashes]

[It's cool. Asch is almost not surprised.]

Sounds like a plan. Lorelei knows it's the only way to correct his weapon stance.

[Look, Leo, he's training the idiot, too! What a charitable guy.]

[flecks]

[ Putting up with Elliot and teaching him things? You're already a saint in his book. ]

Ah, you're a sword master?

[ Elliot's not too shabby with a sword so for someone to be correcting him . . . that's what Leo assumes. ]

[bloodyashes]

Not exactly a master.

[The last word has a slight resentful tinge to it.]

Just someone with actual combat experience.

[Because... Yeah. Training is totally different, especially the kind of training offered to the son of a noble household. Asch doesn't hold a lot of respect for the latter.]

[flecks]

[ The tone is noted and it gets an ever-so-slight raise of his eyebrow, but Leo doesn't remark on it. ]

I see. Still, you must be quite good.

[ And because he feels he should defend Elliot at least a little . . . ]

Elliot has too, just not a lot.

[bloodyashes]

If I wasn't, I would probably be dead by now.

[It's not intended to be as harsh as it sounds; for Asch, it simply is.]

Including my training, I've been in the military for seven years. I doubt any experience he has compares to that.

[flecks]

[ It sounds harsh, simply put like that, but the explanation that follows makes it understandably so. Leo straightens a little, surprised. ]

You're a soldier? That makes sense then.

[ Yeah, there's no way Elliot can hold a candle to that. ]

Thank you for teaching him, I know he can be— ah, a difficult student. [ Putting it mildly. ]

[bloodyashes]

[Not like he had any choice in the matter, Leo, but things you're not going to find out in the first conversation. Even if you are a friend of his obnoxious roommate.]

I imagine he was an equally difficult master.

["Difficult" sounds like a good summary of everything Elliot does.]

[flecks]

[ Leo laughs, conceding. ]

He has his moments, but he's a good friend.

[ Because yeah . . . their relationship is rather unique, asking your best friend to be your servant and then still regarding him as your equal and all. ]

[bloodyashes]

[Well, it's not like those two things are exclusive in Asch's world. Difficult? Sometimes. Not impossible.]

Definitely seems like the loyal to the end type.

[Or... past the end, given the circumstances.]

[flecks]

[ Yeah, that's enough to turn his smile into a rather sad one. ]

He was.

[ Oops, slipping back into past tense already. ]

[bloodyashes]

...He's here now. Take what you can get.

[It's not like most people would ever get the chance to see the dead again. For those who were getting that chance - it was worth taking.

He would, if he had anyone here he cared about that much.]

[flecks]

[ Ah, so Asch knew . . .

The laugh slips out before he can stop it, a wry sound. ]

If only it was that simple. [ Then he wouldn't be avoiding Elliot. ]

[bloodyashes]

[Of course he knows, who the fuck do you think had to wash the blood out of that shirt? Sure as hell wasn't you, Leo.]

You might be surprised.

[But hey, it's your decision, bro. This is the guy who didn't visit his parents after seven years until he was practically dragged through the door, so.]

[flecks]

[ He wasn't there then, okay. Don't blame him. Or do, since Elliot dying is his fault. ]

It's— [ Wait, what was he doing? Leo squashes down the protest and quickly puts on a sheepish smile instead, his tone taking on a forced sort of cheeriness. Falling back on his old ditzy behaviour was getting easier at least. ]

Ahh, what am I saying? You don't have to listen to some stranger's grievances. Sorry, you're right.

[bloodyashes]

[...Whatever, dude. Asch glares slightly at the forced cheer but doesn't say anything about it.]

Well, if you decide to stop by, mind the cat on your way in.

[And on that note? it's back to books for the redhead.]

[flecks]

[ There's a small pause before Leo speaks up again. ]

Cat?

[ Oh, don't tell him . . . ]

Did he pick up a stray?

[bloodyashes]

...Is this a habit I should have been warned about?

[He's unimpressed with Elliot right now, Leo, not you.]

[flecks]

Ah no, I don't think so.

[ Not entirely sure though, because . . . ]

He loves cats, but he tries to hide it because his family wouldn't approve. So it's not strange that he took one home here. [ And with the lack of family, who knows if Elliot will stop at just one. ]

[bloodyashes]

His family?

[He's heard a little about them, but... well, asking Elliot about his family is practically inviting questions about his own, and that's one thing Asch doesn't want to talk about. Bad enough that his replica showed up; Elliot doesn't need the full history.]

[flecks]

[ Leo has no actual family and he doesn't make it a habit to inquire about other people's, so you're safe with him, Asch.

Honestly, Leo has a lot of mixed feelings about the Nightrays now, but he squashes those down as he explains in a light tone. ]

The Nightray Dukedom is part of the Four Great Dukedoms in our world. There's another Dukedom that I guess you could call a 'rival' house, the Vessalius. Cats are considered more a Vessalius Family animal so the Nightrays prefer dogs. It's silly, really. But Elliot's the only one who likes cats.

[bloodyashes]

[Which is good, because his family situation is kind of complicated. Having his replica actually in the city doesn't help all that much.]

Noble houses are prone to doing silly things when it comes to their pride.

[And less silly, more damaging things, too. Thanks Dukedad, you really showed your love to your sons, that's totally why they both got attached to Van, ayup.]

[flecks]

[ It's either silly or horribly destructive if the Nightrays are anything to go by, Leo's learned that much. They're all dead now, save for the adopted Nightrays who technically belong to another house. ]

Quite. It doesn't help that the Nightrays are considered the outcast ones, they have even more at stake.

[bloodyashes]

[Ain't no reason it can't be motherfucking both things, bro.]

So even more of their pride is at stake.

[Yep, he gets it. A family in disgrace who maintains the shards of their reputation by enforcing perfect behaviour; no wonder Elliot is so wrapped up in his idea of what nobles should and shouldn't be.]