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

[nobleminded]

[Your attitude really never changes, does it Leo? Which just makes him want to wonder all the more what exactly happened to him after he was gone, but that wasn't really important so he'll save it for later.]

If I'm yelling, it's your fault! You're even avoiding me now?!

[flecks]

[ Still with the yelling even after he's already remarked on it. It figures.

He's tempted to get up and hit Elliot over the head with his book what with people starting to stare, but he settles on a reproving frown instead. He is guilty as charged after all even if he doesn't quite see it as just avoiding. ]

I'm protecting you.

[nobleminded]

[Yeah, know what? If Gil had ever bothered to explain that reasoning to him, Elliot wouldn't have accepted it from him either.]

Protecting? From what?! How can you protect anyone when you're hiding from them?!

[flecks]

[ He knows full well that Elliot's not going to accept it which is exactly why he's been trying to avoid Elliot for as long as possible. He probably could have handled it better or done it differently. Perhaps he should have outright rejected Elliot, pretended to be mad and never wanted to see him again, but— he couldn't.

Avoiding had been the easy way out that Leo had taken. ]

Simple. Because I'm protecting you from me. [ His very presence had made Elliot suffer before. Never again. ]

[nobleminded]

[The only problem with that logic being that it wasn't how Elliot saw things. Which he was pretty sure he had made clear before. And while Leo didn't expound on his reasons, he really didn't need to.

There's no particular reason why he grabs the book he does off the shelf. The title goes mostly unnoticed. It just looks like a good one to throw at Leo. So he does a split-second later.]

I never asked for your protection, you stupid idiot! And I'm the one who wasn't strong enough, so I don't want to hear that!

[flecks]

[ He was trying so hard to stay calm even in the face of yelling in the library, but the book that's send flying his way that he narrowly manages to dodge just makes all those efforts in vain.

In one motion, Leo rises to his feet and rushes forward, using his momentum to compensate for his lack of height as he grabs the front of Elliot's shirt with both hands to push him back against a bookcase.

At least he manages to stay relatively quiet, the fury is still obvious there in the way he almost hisses out his words though. ]

You don't understand!

[nobleminded]

[Okay, this was more like Leo. But that's only a fleeting thought since Elliot's temper is just going to take all this in stride. His voice is still very much not quiet, however.]

What don't I understand?! You're connected to those criminals from 100 years ago and to Humpty Dumpty! That doesn't change anything! You're still my servant and I WAS THE ONE WHO WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP THAT CHAIN!

[flecks]

[ Leo's about to snap just as loudly, but the familiar sound of the librarian's heels clicking on the floor stops him just in time. He lets go with one hand, leaving the other tightly grasping Elliot's shirt, to clasp it over Elliot's mouth. He wasn't going to get kicked out of his only sanctuary here.

Leo carries on in the same hushed tone only now it has an edge of desperation. These weren't things he had wanted to tell Elliot ever, but he needed Elliot to understand. ]

I'm Glen Baskerville! Everything that happened, happened because of me. Because being Glen means creating a distortion that attracts bad luck. My very existence made you suffer. That's why—! [ He can't stay by Elliot's side anymore. Even if the Will of the Abyss's reach doesn't extend here, there is always the what if. What if nothing had changed after all?

Remember that you are the cause of all this.

Leo grits his teeth and lowers his head, faltering. Oswald may not be in his mind anymore, but he might as well be with how clearly Leo recalls those words. He can't risk it again. Not with Elliot. ]

[nobleminded]

[...Did you seriously just cover his mouth? That's one way to make him impossible understand despite still trying to talk.

He knew Leo had inherited Glen Baskerville's soul, but somehow the fact that they would just make him their leader just like that hadn't dawned on Elliot until he heard it expressed like that. His eyes go wide for a few moments. Followed by narrowing again.

Mn?! NNN ffnnmn nnnm nnn fnmm!

[And then he aims a palm at Leo's cheek.]

[flecks]

[ To be fair, Leo didn't think his hand would be allowed to stay put there for very long. He'd expected Elliot to rip it away right away, but it gave him the opportunity to say what he needed to say to explain himself, so that's enough for him.

He leans back a little, not quite dodging the palm since it's only a very half-hearted attempt to dodge it anyway. He's almost tempted to just leave his hand over Elliot's mouth, he doesn't particularly want to hear what Elliot has to say, nothing would ever change that it was his fault. But in the end he drops his hand although not before pointedly saying: ]

Be quiet.

[ He can't hear the librarian nearby anymore, but it doesn't change the fact they're in a library and they can get kicked out still. ]

[nobleminded]

[Normal speaking volume = library voice, right?]

I was only shouting because you obviously can't hear me! But what does it matter what Glen Baskerville's life was like? You're the one who should be choosing your own path!

[flecks]

[ Well, it's an improvement so he'll take it. He lets go of Elliot's shirt and steps back properly. ]

It doesn't change what I am. [ A beat and he looks away. ] I already made my choice.

[ Even though that was back home, it's still a choice he made. To help the Baskervilles obtain their goal. ]

[nobleminded]

Did you?! [...Well his voice is still softer than it had been before...] Did you make your choice or did you merely go along with what you thought was expected of you just because you used to be Glen?!

[flecks]

[ Ah.

That's a good point and the small moment of hesitation those words bring betray that even if Leo stubbornly sticks with it after the moment passes. ]

I went with what was right.

[nobleminded]

[That pause is all Elliot needs for an answer.]

Right?! What's so right about assisting those criminals?!

[flecks]

[ Leo doesn't feel that strongly about the Baskerville's reputation, but the accusation of 'criminals' does get rather tiring and more than that, irritating.

It's in a flash of irritation that he blurts out: ]

They're not the criminals, you don't know anything about them!

[nobleminded]

I know plenty about them! They caused the tragedy 100 years ago, and they attacked both of us more than once!

[flecks]

You're wrong!

[ His temper flares in earnest there and with it his own volume rises, but he quickly reigns it back in before it can turn into yelling.

He repeats, more subdued but still agitated. ]

You're wrong. They didn't cause the tragedy.

[nobleminded]

What, you're trying to tell me they didn't kill hundreds of innocent people in Sablier?!

[flecks]

If they hadn't, those people would have— [ Leo suddenly cuts himself off with a frustrated sound and rather than explaining any further, he takes a moment to take a deep breath and pinch the bridge of his nose before sharply looking back up at Elliot. ]

Never mind, it doesn't matter. I can't stay by your side. [ And that's the point of this all. With that point made, he turns with every intention of storming out of the library. ]

[nobleminded]

[Yes, that might have been his intention, but Elliot grabs his arm. Rather tightly, at that.]

What the hell, Leo? Unless you can give me a good reason, as far as I'm concerned, you're still my servant! Tell me what's going on with the Baskervilles!

[flecks]

[ Leo flinches at the tightness of the hold, but he more or less expected it. ]

I'm the Head of Baskerville. Let me go. [ There's no easy escape here and there's no way Elliot would let go just like that at an uncharacteristic authoritative tone, but it doesn't mean Leo can't try. ]

[nobleminded]

[He just tightens his grip slightly as he takes a step closer to him.]

And I'm the legitimate heir to the Nightray dukedom! I won't!

[flecks]

[ Leo doesn't falter, he stands his ground. He doesn't try to move away or even wrench his arm loose because he knows both efforts would be futile.

If he could only drive Elliot away, it'd be fine. It's best then for Elliot to keep on hating the Baskervilles and believing in Jack's lies. Perhaps that might make it easier. ]

That doesn't mean anything. Let go.

[nobleminded]

WHAT?!

[And now he aims a punch at him for that comment while still trying to keep a grasp on him.]

What is going on with you, Leo?! You've been acting strange ever since you got here!