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]

[ 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!

[flecks]

[ Okay, now he does pull back as much as he can with Elliot holding onto him, but the punch still grazes him. It's just impossible to stay calm after that.

He puts his hands on Elliot's chest to shove him back as he snaps. ]

What do you think!? You died! [ It's not what he meant to say, but it's the first thing that comes out of his mouth. ]

[nobleminded]

[Elliot loses his grip thanks to that shove, but he just heads right back toward Leo once he regains his balance.]

YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT?! And do you think I like that it happened?! IT'S STILL NO EXCUSE TO JOIN THE BASKERVILLES!

[flecks]

[ Leo does back up this time, except it only takes two steps before he's backed up against a bookcase and essentially cornered. ]

I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE! It's what I've been from the start!

[nobleminded]

[Well good, this ensures that Leo will stick around to listen to him. He puts his hands on either side of him on the shelf just to pin him there with his arms. And seeing the bookshelf also reminds him to lower his volume just a little. Still not quiet by any means, but it's slightly more library acceptable.]

You always have a choice! If that's really who you were from the start, why didn't you join them before now?! Is this really what you want, Leo?!

[flecks]

[ He's definitely trapped now and rather unhappy about it too. He can only glare up at Elliot from his position, fists clenched by his side. ]

I didn't know! [ And is it really what he wants? ] No, I—

[ Just want things to be like the way they were before. Before Humpty Dumpty, when days were mostly peaceful and fun in the orphanage. But there's no going back to that ever. It doesn't matter if all he wants is to remain by Elliot's side because what's even more important than that is protecting Elliot. The only way he knows how is to remove himself from the picture.

Leo grits his teeth, one hand flying into his hair to drag it forward so it somewhat obscures his face again in an old habitual gesture. ]

I can't. [ Stay. ]

[nobleminded]

[Elliot spots that, and combined with his response, he definitely feels like he's getting through to him. Or he hopes he is at least.]

You can't what?! You just said this isn't what you want! You're trying to hide from it! What's keeping you from deciding your own future?!

[flecks]

[ He'd said he'd been done hiding, and believed it too, but Elliot's right. He is trying to hide from it and it's all he wants to do again. Hide from the world behind bangs and books, hide from all the horrors under Oswald's cloak. In the end he's back at the start again. Always hiding. It's despicable, but then again he's a despicable person so it's only fitting.

It's easier to look at Elliot now at least, with a layer of hair covering his eyes. ]

Weren't you listening!? My very existence made you suffer, that's not going to change!

[ Only things had already changed, there are no voices in his head or flecks of golden light in the air. He's only Leo here, but it's still what guilt and doubt have him believe. ]

[nobleminded]

[Shut up, you're the best despicable person. Or at least you usually are. Right now you're just pissing Elliot off.]

Of course I was! You're the one who needs to listen! I only suffered because of my own weaknesses, and because my family was weak too! Do you really think things would have been better if you hadn't become my servant?! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED!

[flecks]

[ Leo's slight frame is trembling with— anger, frustration or desperation. Possibly a combination of all three, he's not sure. He clenches his fists tighter, knuckles turning white, as he resists the urge to just start throwing things. ]

You wouldn't have contracted with Humpty Dumpty! That was my fault! [ And that's when and where everything had started going downhill. All because he'd been stupid and selfish. ]