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

[bloodyashes]

[It's not that Leo's any kind of obstacle - rather, the beanbag he's chosen to lean against just happens to be where Asch intended on sitting to page through a couple of books himself. For the most part, they're books on capentry and plumbing - the sort of thing you'd be looking at if you had an abandoned building you wanted to fix up. The redhead isn't paying that much attention to the boy on the other side of the beanbag when he kind of sprawls into a seat -

At least not until his head basically bonks into Leo's over the back of the beanbag. Whoops. Asch jerks his head forward again, startled by the impact, then turns to look over his shoulder at the kid reading on the other side.]

Sorry. Didn't see you there.

[Hey look, he's actually being kind of polite. Then again, it was his bad.]

[flecks]

[ Although Leo can certainly feel the shifting of the beanbag as it suddenly accompanies more weight, it doesn't quite register immediately in his mind. He's busy catching up with the last few volumes of Holy Knight as he's certain he's much farther into the series than Elliot and Oz so those last volumes won't be missed for a little while. The current chapter he's on proves to be quite enticing and it's because of the suspense and how into it he's gotten despite himself that he doesn't instantly react to someone joining him at his beanbag until—

Ow. Something of a yelp escapes him in both his surprise and the sudden pain shooting through his head. He glances over his shoulder sharply as he clutches the back of his head. The urge to snap is there, but it's mollified somewhat by the apology.

He could be polite in return (albeit through gritted teeth) despite his annoyance. It's a good thing he was too startled to resort to yelling straight away at least. ]

It's okay, I should have noticed.

[bloodyashes]

[Or made yourself more noticable, maybe, but Asch doesn't say that aloud. He can already tell this kid is just on the edge of snapping, and he's not actually out to cause trouble. He's had enough happen in the last day to last him a long time.]

Should I go somewhere else?

[Think carefully, Leo, because people are less likely to trip over you if there's someone else they see first. And that red hair certainly attracts attention in the drab library, doesn't it?]

[allsongs]

[no talking in the library? goodness.

how about humming? a gentle hum. that's not so bad, right? it seems to suit the place: a pondering, breathy melody easily melting away between shelves of moderately shabby books and bouncing sharply against walls housing the more advanced stores of knowledge the Initiative has salvaged.

the sound precedes her as she drifts out of an aisle, her fingers idly grazing the spines of books as she moves, slowing to a stop before the lump on the floor. a moment to gaze and consider, and Simmaeri finds that little discolored bump near the top to be a head of hair...

she smiles.

at that hour, it's lucky to see one awake in such a place.]

[eyecontact]

[there's not a whole lot to draw in Exsilium unless you like rats, scraggly trees, grim buildings, the people...

okay, there's a lot, but Jericho misses the mountains. the flowers. there's a few lovely images at the library, he knows, so he's back to peruse. inspiration can come from anything, really, so who kn--

what is that?

Jericho blinks at the beanbag now in his way and stares for a good length before stepping forward, leaning to investigate.

well, he sees the top of Leo's head and whatever book he's got cracked open at the moment, but that's not telling very much for Jericho.

sorry for standing in your light, by the way. Jericho-shaped shadows are fine with you, right?]

[velveteened]

( he is here for his holy knight. it has become something of a mission over the course of the past week or so to catch up on it properly - and who knows when he may next get the chance? for now, there aren't any missions and things are quiet, even peaceful. no invading armies. none playing pretend. no major conflicts among those from his home world unless you count book disagreements, and despite proclamations to the contrary, he really wouldn't.

he actually has no intention of disturbing leo once he notices him, but there ends up being a problem. leo is very much in the way of where he needs to go. maybe if he just carefully steps around leo he won't be noticed...... )

[flecks]

[ His knee jerk reaction is to go "yes go away" but luckily Leo doesn't blurt out every first thing that comes to mind unlike a certain someone else of mutual acquaintance. So, after a small moment of consideration, he ends up shaking his head. ]

No, it's fine. [ Just don't bump heads with him again, please. ]

[flecks]

[ If Leo wasn't such an avid lover of music and a piano player himself, there's a big chance he would have been annoyed by the humming. But as it stands, Simmaeri's in luck. The melody slowly pulls him away from his book and back to reality where he finds himself closing his eyes and listening intently.

Leo's never slept much and in Exsilium he sleeps even less after everything that's happened leaving not only his waking moments troubled, but his sleeping ones as well. His bed is practically a home to his books, just like it'd been back in Lutwidge Academy, and Leo gets by with short naps whenever he falls asleep reading. The librarian is nice enough to occasionally just let him stay the night so finding Leo in the library at late hours is nothing unusual.

Only when the humming comes closer and seems to stop right behind him does Leo open his eyes and look up. Or well, more accurately put he tilts his head back and—

Suddenly finds himself staring right at a smiling face. There's an owlish blink before Leo catches himself. ]

Ah, good evening.

[flecks]

[ Not really, actually. Leo can't say he appreciates a shadow falling over him. It'd be one thing if it was someone just passing by, but as the shadow lingers that doesn't seem to be the case. It's more the fact that someone is just hovering on the spot that quickly comes to annoy Leo than anything else.

He endures it for a few more seconds before he's abruptly glancing over his shoulder. "Do you want something?" is what he means to say, but when he sees who it is . . . ]

Oh, it's you.

[flecks]

[ Leo too is catching up on Holy Knight. In fact, he's doing so right now! Luckily he's ahead of everyone else and so he's on the last few volumes which shouldn't be missed for a bit. However, unfortunately for Oz, he's actually grabbed a few of the earlier volumes to reference some of the older stuff as he reads through the things new to him.

So, good news is that Leo doesn't even notice Oz as he's too caught up in the latest plot twist. Bad news is that the small stack of Holy Knight volumes next to him might just contain the volume you need . . . ]

They're getting nowhere fast haha

[bloodyashes]

If you're sure.

[Hey, it's not like the head bonking was exactly pleasant for him, either. Asch rubs at the base of his skull as he adjust in his seat, turning so that he's less likely to knock into Leo again in any direction. His head winds up leaning against the bookshelf instead, which isn't the most comfortable, but at least he's not going to hit anyone this way.]

not to worry o7

[flecks]

[ The other guy proves to be quiet company which is something Leo can definitely appreciate. It doesn't take long for him to get back into his Holy Knight volume and get so engrossed in it that he even forgets there's someone sitting with him altogether.

That's exactly why, after another thrilling plot twist, he can't help but gasp aloud and then mutter to himself: ]

Ahh, I want to see Elliot's face when he reads this . . . [ Which is unlikely with how he's been avoiding said Nightray, but he can wish. ]

[velveteened]

( he does carefully step around leo and, relieved, continues on his way.

only to return a few minutes later. and - yes, there they are, the additional early volumes of holy knight. it's tempting to just take them and walk away, but he's already seen what leo's temper is like.

nothing for it, then. )

Ah...Leo?

YES good on you Leo

[bloodyashes]

[And Asch is pretty engrossed in his reading, although there's a bit of frustration on his face as he tries to figure out some of the diagrams. Definitely not his strong suit, this.

He hears the words, though, and though it takes them a moment to register what was said, his head jerks up pretty much immediately.]

...That wouldn't be referring to Elliot Nightray, would it?

[Forever a nosy bastard getting into his charity case's roommate's business.]

[flecks]

[ It's a very wise decision, Oz.

Leo does notice the footsteps returning this time, but he doesn't pay it much mind. Not even when a familiar voice speaks up. It only pulls him away from the story a little, but not quite enough and as such he replies without even looking up. ]

What is it, Oz? [ Actually he could easily guess what it is, but he's too focused on his reading to bother trying. ]

[velveteened]

( he's never actually tried distracting leo from his reading before, but he's heard enough to still make him tread carefully. )

I need Volume 9.

( and the ones after. but let's start small. )

[flecks]

[ Oh oops that's right, he had company. Leo might have been embarrassed or offered an apology, but then Elliot's name is mentioned and all those thoughts and intentions fly straight out of the window. It tends to have that effect on him.

His head snaps up equally fast, eyes widened in surprise as his gaze comes to meet Asch's. ]

It is. How do you know him?

[bloodyashes]

[Oh, yes, this guy definitely knows Elliot. Good or bad, it's hard to tell - the only name that makes Asch snap his attention to the speaker in quite that manner is "Luke fon Fabre" and that's, well, a difficult case. So he's giving Leo a wary look as he replies - ]

He's one of my roommates.

[flecks]

[ Oz will find that not only can it be a harrowing experience, it can also be a really difficult one. ]

Is that so . . .

[ Did Leo even register the question? It's hard to tell from the way he merrily keeps on reading, but his utterly absent-minded tone might have said enough. ]

[velveteened]

( long pause. )

And Volume 10.

[flecks]

[ His roommate? Of course, just like how Leo was put with Rise and Ino, so Elliot would have been put with strangers as well. It's just not something Leo stopped to consider which unfortunate souls might have been unlucky enough to end up with Elliot.

His expression shifts instantly to something both sympathetic and apologetic. ]

I'm very sorry if he's caused you any trouble. [ Which undoubtedly he must have. Leo realizes that might be a weird thing to say out of the blue though, so he quickly elaborates. ] I'm Leo, I'm his servant.

[flecks]

[ Sorry, you've waited too long.

He doesn't even have any words to spare anymore, there's just a hum in reply. If it even can be called a reply, that is. ]

[velveteened]

( TESTING THIS )

And 11, and I'm adopting you a cat.

[flecks]

Mm-hm.

[ Well then, rest assured he's not listening in the slightest. ]

[velveteened]

As a token of our friendship! I think I'll name it Cake.

( this is pretty fun )

You don't mind, right?