fandomhigh | Library [08.08]

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Library [08.08]

The library was more like a menagerie, today. Karal was accompanied by a Firecat, a deer, and a kitten.

Altra was necessary, he'd coaxed Evey to come with him so he wouldn't worry about her, and he hadn't wanted to leave Vashti on her own in the cabin.

Suffice it to say, it wasn't going to be quite a normal day in the library today.

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Karal had given up trying to tidy. Instead, he was sitting in front of the counter, a book in his lap, Evey's wee fawn head on his knee, and a Vashti who kept trying to leap onto the book and slay its vicious pages.

Altra, as befitted the dignity of a Firecat, was perched on the counter, looking down at the book so Karal could read it out loud to his audience.

Liir made his way into the library with a bag (http://vanessafrida.livejournal.com/259509.html)... and realized a few moments later that he hadn't packed quiet enough.

"There's... more in the ice box," he told Karal with a look around. "And... I could bring in something more vegetable for your friend there."

The deer.

Karal sighed and looked up, smiling ruefully. "Fandom oddness has struck again," he explained. "This is Evey." Evey who was a deer turned her head to look at him for a moment. "The kitten is just a kitten, though."

He eyed Evey thoughtfully and gave an expression of apology before smiling at the kitten.

"Then I'll definitely have to leave something for her," he said with a grin.

Yes, Liir liked cats. After having been a kitten twice, and since they seemed to be one of the only animals around this place, he'd grown very fond of them. He considered one of his own.

Well. That might solve some things.

"May I pet her, if she'd like?"

He picked her up off the book for the tenth time that morning and held her out to Liir. "Please," he said. "I'm not sure bringing her to the library was the best idea."

He blinked but took the kitten, offering a hand to sniff as he cradled her with his other arm.

"She thinks the books are toys," he explained, while Vashti looked a little uncertain, but settled down. "Her name is Vashti."

He lifted his hand carefully to offer a scritching pet. He tended not to touch an animal until he'd seen he was allowed.

Vashti appeared quite content to be petted and even purred a little. Karal stood, set the book on the counter, and smiled as Evey stretched to her feet and wandered off into the shelves. "How have you been, Liir?"

The kitten was petted, oh yes, and he was a very dutiful petter.

"I've been well enough. Mostly I've been reading in my alcove, though some of my cookies have found better homes."

He looked to Karal.

"I've been trying to find a new thing to start learning. So far, sewing is looking the most practical but also the most likely to involve bloodshed on my part."

"It would certainly be useful," Karal said thoughtfully. "I could find you a book or two, if you liked. The library has books on everything."

"I was reading one at work," he admitted as he scritched the kitten's ears.

"I might give it a shot this weekend at some point."

"I know a little bit, enough to mend a hem or reattach a button, but that's all." He smiled. "I mostly know about wearing the end product. Do you want to try your hand at being a tailor?"

He shook his head.

"Mostly I'd just want to be able to fashion clothes if I had the minimum of supplies. I enjoy cooking."

"And you're very good at it," he said. "But being able to fashion clothes would be a wonderful skill to have. Food and clothing," he added, "the essentials of life, and you'll be good at both."

He grinned.

"Perhaps I'll give it a shot, then. Hopefully, I'll be able to ask Miss Lulu's advice for that as well."

"Oh, that would be even better than just a book. It's much simpler to learn with someone to show you how than trying to puzzle it out from descriptions."

"I've done that before," he said with a grin. "It's almost fun. Well, with certain things."

He sighed.

"I've been wondering if I might be able to find more books here for working on my magic as well, but I've been a bit nervous of that."

"There might be," Karal said thoughtfully. "I think anything dangerous is locked up in Special Collections, but there must be books that wouldn't be dangerous."

"But something I could do with the books is another matter," he said with a faint wry grin.

"Very true," he agreed with a small laugh. "There are some books on meditation, though, and on focussing one's will and intent, and those could certainly help you without any unfortunate side effects."

"I'm more... worried that I'd be changing things I shouldn't change just by doing most of the practice the books mention."

Altra yawned from his spot on the desk. :If you want to practice, I can shield you so nothing leaks out.:

He bowed his head to Altra.

"...would you? I just... I've managed to contain matters somewhat so no one else is paying for my lack of experience, but I didn't want anyone to suffer for me to learn more."

:I will,: Altra replied. :Once Evey is herself again.:

"Magic is one of those things much better taught than learned from a book," Karal said.

"Yes, well, beggers can't be choosers," he said with a nod to Altra, "though they can be very thankful."

:We can't have you accidentally making everyone in the dorms taste like fruit,: Altra said, sounding amused. :But you'll never get total control without practice.:

He blushed a little.

"I wouldn't think so. I'm not all that quick to pick up on things and even worse if I can't try it."

Karal chuckled. "It would actually be quite amusing if you made everyone taste like fruit," he said. "So long as it wore off. Compared to some of the other strangeness, tasting like fruit would seem almost ordinary."

"And have people licking others like sweetmeats?" he said with wide eyes.

Yeah, the mental image there is not going anywhere.

Karal went pink while Altra snickered. "I hadn't thought of that."

Liir couldn't help joining Altra.

What could he say to add to that, really?

"I should" laugh "probably get to work" laugh "before you convince me to Wickedness."

He had to laugh as well. "Any wickedness was inadvertent, I swear!" he said. "But that's probably safest."

Karal returned from his class and hovered outside the door while Altra peeked inside. He was a bit afraid of what he'd see.

Thankfully Evey had kept the kitten occupied, and there was a distinct lack of destruction. Karal breathed a sigh of relief and trotted inside to resume reading duties.

Edited 2008-08-08 09:36 (UTC)

*cough* Please note the entire lack of puns in this post.

I HAVE WILL POWER, DAMNIT! I can stop anytime I want...

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Library [08.08]

Morning

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Afternoon

OOC