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]

[ The question is odd enough to make him blink. In a sense he supposes one gets to know the characters enough they could be considered friends in some way, but somehow he doubts that's what she means.

So he shakes his head. ]

They're all fictional characters, the author made them up so Edwin's not real.

[allsongs]

[she makes a soft, thoughtful sound.]

Not real as Edwin. Real as someone else? Many someones? This is how stories come to be.

[flecks]

[ He glances away as he considers, it's a good point, and then he nods tentatively. ]

Probably. Indeed a lot of stories are like that, but if the author based Edwin off of someone real, I wouldn't know.

[allsongs]

You know of no men like this Edwin of stories? [her eyes squint a little, as if she already knows the answer. but it's better in their own words – and you never know when you'll be surprised.]

[flecks]

[ Anyone like Edwin? Leo has to think about that, but not for very long at all. Trying to move upwards in the world . . . that was just like Elliot trying to clear the Nightray family name, wasn't it? Certainly there were plenty of parallels to be drawn, even if Elliot's 'story' ended more like Edgar's with him sacrificing himself. The realization brings a smile to his face that is both fond and sad. ]

I do, my friend is very much like him.

[allsongs]

[she reflects the smile back to him, herself shifting to settle her knees on the floor – she's not going anywhere in a hurry.]

Will you tell me of this friend, too?

[flecks]

Ah, Elliot? [ There's a moment of hesitation there. Elliot's an uncertain topic for many reasons, but well. It doesn't hurt to tell what his best friend is like since Elliot's here anyway.

He glances away to the book by his side as he speaks, the smile still there and his tone warm. ]

He's my master. He's very loud so maybe you've run into him already, he's rather hard to miss. Although he's smart, he can still be an idiot, but he means well.

[allsongs]

[what he says can be said of so many people Simmaeri can recall – or simply recall hearing of. save for Elliot, the name itself, which has a foreign ring to it in her ears. a nice one, anyway – a kind of tut-tut...Elli-yutt.]

Many are loud here. Many smart, or an idiot...But a master is new to my ears.

[flecks]

[ From what Leo has gathered the whole 'master and servant' thing didn't really happen here anymore, but it still wasn't an unheard of concept. Except for this lady, it seemed. It's odd, how knowledgeable yet naive (or ignorant?) she seemed. Although it only makes her more intriguing to him.

He tilts his head slightly in his wondering. ]

Elliot's a noble and noble families tend to have servants. I'm his servant, so that makes him my master.

[allsongs]

[a sound of understanding.]

Does this make you happy?

[flecks]

[ Honestly, he should stop being surprised at this point, but the question still catches him off-guard. Certainly, he became Elliot's servant because he wanted to stay by his side, but in the end that might not have been the best idea. Elliot suffered and died a horrible death because of his presence . . . But did the time he got to spend with Elliot make him happy?

Yes. Yes, it had. So he nods even if things were so much more complicated here. ]

I hold Elliot in very high esteem. [ That hasn't changed and it never will. ]

[allsongs]

Is this happiness? [she can't tell, truly. esteem is a new word to her in this instance, and his reaction just prior gives her reason to wonder.

mildly:] I do not know what is esteem.

[flecks]

[ Oh. Her vocabulary was really rather lacking, wasn't it? At least Leo's gotten used to being around children so explaining comes easy. ]

When you hold someone in high esteem it means you respect them very much. [ Here's hoping she knows what respect is at least. ]

[allsongs]

[ah. there's recognition in her expression. she nods slow.]

I understand this. Thank you. [esteem...]

[flecks]

[ He shakes his head at the words of gratitude. ]

It's nothing. Will you tell me about the song? [ They had a deal after all. ]

[allsongs]

[her eyebrow quirks for just a moment – just at 'nothing' – before she smiles in return, nodding. they have a deal, after all.]

It is a song for peoples who learn. There is a place in the land where they go, and all of the buildings are there for learning. Men go to learn their magic.

[flecks]

[ The more Simmaeri explains, the more Leo seems positively entranced. Of course, he instantly realizes what she's talking about. ]

A school. [ He supplies absent-mindedly, eyes widening with curiosity and wonder. ] A school for magic? They teach magic where you're from?

[allsongs]

School... [hm...]

Teach to use, not to have. This is the way. [she clasps her hands, situating herself more comfortably.] Peoples who want to use it learn, and some will learn in school. [her eyebrows lift, questioning; is she using the word right?]

[flecks]

[ He nods at the silent question, encouragingly. A school where they taught how to use magic, something that back home he'd only find in books, but in Exsilium to some it seemed to be a reality. It's fascinating.

Leo shifts, turning to fully face Simmaeri and put his arms on the beanbag. ]

Did you ever go to one?

[allsongs]

I have seen them. [she nods, reflecting.] The first, before it is ruins. There are others, but one that is very big. Men from many lands came before, but no longer. It is... [she unlaces her fingers, curling and cupping them together.] Together, away from other peoples. It will not let them in now.

[flecks]

[ He watches the gesture closely, trying to put it together with her words to figure out what she might mean. ]

Like it's closed or do people still learn there but no one else is allowed?

[allsongs]

No one else is allowed. [she matches his rhythm, nodding slow.] This is true. War has happened again, and the doors are closed to the outside.

[flecks]

Really? That's a shame.

[ A small pondering pause. ]

Does that mean magic is dying where you're from? Since no one can learn it.

[allsongs]

No. [her head shakes slow, once.] Always, magic is here. It is not only for schools, big buildings, kings... It is like air. Something everywhere, yes?

[flecks]

[ He hums thoughtfully as he nods once in confirmation. ]

Can people still use it even when they're not taught how to in a school?