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]

Then I must have had some bad examples.

[ SNERK. And now he's slowly looking back to the book he's been reading. ]

[velveteened]

In that case, it's too bad you couldn't see more of my uncle!

( if that's how it is, he's just going to reach for the book he needs. )

[flecks]

[ Leo would have retorted, but he sees that hand reaching for his little pile and instead he sharply fixes Oz with a look.

Are you really going to try and just take them, Oz? Is your life worth it? Consider these things wisely. ]

[velveteened]

( his fingertips land on the cover of the book at the top of the stack, so now's the time to act if leo's going to to.

he shouldn't have expected otherwise, after all. )

[flecks]

[ No, probably not.

Leo reacts fast though and before Oz can actually get a grip on the book, the pile is suddenly gone. One moment it's still on the ground and the next— balanced neatly on Leo's fingertips as if he's holding a plate next to his head.

He leans back into the beanbag and raises an eyebrow pointedly. ]

[velveteened]

( he doesn't start or anything, but he does keep that outreached arm out for a moment as he realizes what happened, then straightens. )

You can't hold them forever.

[flecks]

Hm, not like this I suppose.

[ But Leo is nothing if not a master of carrying and balancing as many books as possible so he'll just slip the pile . . . onto his head. That way his hand won't get tired and Oz would still have to brave his personal space if he wants them.

So now he just raises the volume out of his lap so he can continue reading without moving his head. ]

[velveteened]

( apparently leo and break have more in common than they may expect.

he frowns at this development, then steps quickly over the other book piles, reaching out....but his boot catches on something, and he overbalances, falling right onto leo.

whoops. )

[flecks]

[ Not as planned.

He can see Oz falling, but all he manages in time is leaning back and dropping his book to free his hands and potentially catch Oz except that last part doesn't really work out. It all happens too fast for that and next thing he knows he has the wind knocked out of him and the books balanced on his head come tumbling down.

He's grateful for the beanbag at least, it softens the blow for both of them, but it doesn't do anything about that elbow digging into his stomach now unfortunately. There's a disorientated moment where he can only groan in pain but it doesn't last long before his temper flares and he's hitting Oz over the head once sharply. ]

You could have just asked and said please! [ He would have given them. Maybe. Goddamn spoiled nobles always demanding things!! ]

[velveteened]

Ow...

( the beanbag does indeed make for a soft landing - leo himself is a bit too pointy and angley for that - but oz is pretty sure there are books that managed to land on him as well as underneath and it's all terribly uncomfortable. which is only made worse when leo hits him - the nerve!! - and he makes a distressed sad puppy noise. indignant feelings are fairly powerful, or at least enough so to have him try to push himself up onto his elbows so he can shoot leo a look himself. )

Why couldn't you just say that in the first place!

[flecks]

[ The noise does nothing to abate Leo's anger, in his mind that blow was well deserved. It's not like he hasn't hit Oz before and at least he keeps it to that one hit despite feeling like following it up with one while holding a book. Perhaps that would be more effective.

Leo grits his teeth when Oz moves though a pained hiss still escapes him. One that he quickly turns into a growl. ]

It's common sense! Why do I have to be the one to remind you all of your manners!? [ #servantproblems ]

[velveteened]

( he pushes himself backwards so that he lands on the ground and is no longer on leo, still scowling. )

I never said you did!

[flecks]

[ Good, as he was so close to shoving Oz off roughly. Just like how he's tempted to grab one of the volumes and flinging it in Oz's face. So tempted. ]

Just remember them so no one has to remind you! [ HUFF. ]

[velveteened]

Pay attention in the first place so someone can ask you nicely!

( it didn't even bother him much, at all, but in the context of being lectured about manners - well. )

[flecks]

[ He sits up, though not without wincing, so he can start gathering the scattered volumes into a pile again, all the while glowering. ]

How about not bothering people when they're reading? It's very rude.

[velveteened]

I was only interrupting you because you were holding onto the volumes I needed, even though you've already read them!

( he gestures at the book city leo's got going. )

[flecks]

[ Leo feels even more disinclined to give them now, but he also just wants Oz out of his face and in the end it's the latter feeling that wins out. He stacks the three volumes Oz asked for, in the exact order as requested, in a separate pile before shoving said pile in Oz's direction. ]

Fine, just leave!! [ Let him fume over his newly acquired bruises in peace. ]

[velveteened]

( wait, so leo had been paying attention?? the names and order of the books aren't lost on him, and even though the pile is shoved at him, he doesn't move to take it.

a beat passes, then: )

What color cat would you like best?

[flecks]

[ Sort of. In the moment he hadn't, but it's only after that he realizes what's been said. But more importantly, what part of 'just leave' doesn't Oz get?

Leo ignores him entirely for a moment as he sets about finding the page he was on before all the chaos happened. He's still angrily flipping through the pages when he eventually speaks again. ]

Calico. [ Don't get him an actual cat though, he might have to kill you. ]

[velveteened]

Aah, how cute.

( he probably should just leave. but if he were that kind of person, he probably wouldn't have succeeded at being friends with elliot in the first place. )

Have you had a chance to see the orphanage yet?

[flecks]

They're said to bring good luck.

[ Unlike him, har har. It's said bitterly with that thought in mind. And of course Oz doesn't leave, it's no surprise.

Leo's been stubbornly refusing to look at him, but at the mention of the orphanage he sighs before finally glancing up as his fingers still on the pages. ]

I have. I work there now. [ Aaand looking back down at the book again. ]

[velveteened]

Really? I never heard that before.

( mentioning the orphanage was definitely deliberate, and it's satisfying to see about the reaction he'd expected. he smiles. )

That must be nice! I bet the children are happy about that.

[flecks]

I read it in a book.

[ It's definitely effective, the page turning is a lot more calmer now as Leo's anger slowly dissipates. ]

They're happy with any new face, really. [ A beat. ] But they're good kids.

[ If he sounds a bit fond there it's totally your imagination. ]

[velveteened]

( he laughs, just a little, pleased. )

They are. I should go visit, I haven't since ( that ultimately fake attack ) - in a little while.

[flecks]

[ Honestly, Leo feels as conflicted about working at the orphanage and getting to know the kids there as pretty much everything in his life right now. He doesn't want to get too close, it's not the House of Fianna and they will never replace his siblings, nor does he want to get too attached in case— Well. But kids are kids and it can't be helped despite Leo's best efforts.

And oh hey, he's found the page he was on again. He's scanning it for the bit he left off at as he replies. ]

I'm sure they'll be pleased if you do.