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]

[ 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.]

[flecks]

[ Oh, Asch gets it right away. Out of personal experience or otherwise, but either way Leo's actually coming to like him. ]

Exactly. I think it says a lot about why Elliot is the way he is. [ A beat. ] Or a little, at least.

[bloodyashes]

[Clearly, twas a match made in herding Nightrays.

A small snort.]

He has enough pride for the entire family.

[flecks]

[ Truly.

He lets out a soft chuckle at that. ]

He does. [ And the more sobering thought: ] But the family needs it.

[bloodyashes]

[Well, now that sure is an intriguing line. Don't mind following up on it, do you, Leo? Of course not.]

So their reputation as shady is well-earned?

[flecks]

[ There's a tiny bit of hesitation as he figures out how to put it. ]

No, not at all. In fact, it's quite unjust. It's just that the number of family members has been . . . dwindling. [ Practically to 0. ]

[bloodyashes]

Illness, war, or assassination?

[Don't mind him being blunt, Leo.]

[flecks]

[ He raises an eyebrow, but it's more amused than anything else. Being a blunt person himself, he can appreciate it at least. ]

Murder.

[bloodyashes]

And how does that differ from assassination, in this case?

[Because back home, they usually meant the same thing, when it came to such high-ranked nobility.]

[flecks]

They weren't planned like assassinations would be. It was done more, hm . . . [ how to put this ] spur of the moment?

[ Yes, that sounds like the most accurate way to put it. He nods. ] Only one was a planned assassination.

[ Probably two, but he's not certain whether or not Vincent had set out with the sole purpose of killing Duke Nightray. ]

[bloodyashes]

[...Well.]

And does that have anything to do with why Elliot showed up covered in blood?

[Who all got murdered, exactly?]

[flecks]

[ Well, Humpty Dumpty was involved with that, so . . . ]

Ah, yes. He— arrived like that, I see. [ The thought earns a grimace, it's a picture that's all too easy to imagine and one that haunts him in his sleep. ]

[bloodyashes]

The Initiative healed his injuries, whatever they were, but his shirt was still covered in blood.

[Which hey, luckily Asch is an expert with that.]

[flecks]

[ If only the Initiative had been there to do that before Elliot died. ]

It must have been gruesome. [ Because that was a LOT of blood, Elliot practically died in a pool of his own blood.

But he shoves the thought away in favor of something he's been wondering about. It's likely Asch doesn't know, but considering he was Elliot's roommate, there's still a chance. ]

This might be an odd question, but how does he sleep? [ Since the nightmares had been bad enough when his memories were suppressed, he can't imagine how they must be now that Elliot remembers if he still has them at all, that is. ]