Library [29.08]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Classes began next week, so Karal was taking extra care to put the library in order.

It was soothing, as well, and he was humming quietly as he reshelved books and tidied periodicals.

[ooc: No OCD, the post flies free.]

Comments

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal smiled. "Ask away!" he said.

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He smiled, mostly to be polite, and kept looking at his tea.

"Do you think... do you think if something's damaged, if... if you keep trying to make it work only it won't... do you think you should toss it aside and try something new?"

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It was not at all what he was expecting and his smile disappeared. "It depends on what sort of something you mean," he replied carefully.

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Just about any sort of something. If it keeps fouling up and you can't think of any reason to keep it around other than to sort of... well, because it'll be a bit difficult to get rid of. That sort of thing."

He tried to keep it light, but he was no more good at this than he was at directing any conversation in another direction.

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He folded his hands around his teacup. "There are two answers to that. If it is something important to you, or something that you care about, then even if it keeps fouling up, even if it's difficult, then you could have reasons to keep it close," he said, choosing his words with care. "Some of the best things in life are hard work, but worth every moment of difficulty. If it's not, or it never was, if you're only keeping it from force of habit, because it's simpler or easier, then it might be time to let it go." He paused, then added, "The difficult part is deciding what the something means to you, and what you'll be missing once it's gone."

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"But how can you are for something even when it keeps fouling up? If it's so damaged that it can't get through a day without... breaking down, how could it be so important? To anyone?"

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Did you stop being my friend because I returned blind?" he asked instead of answering.

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

That startled him enough that he almost dropped his tea.

"No! Of course not! Why would I do that?"

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You wouldn't," he soothed. "Nor would you have stopped being my friend if I'd lost my legs, or my hands. Or if I'd returned angry or so upset that I couldn't get through the day without breaking down. I'm quite certain of that, no matter how difficult it would have been." Karal touched Liir's arm. "Do you understand? If you care for someone, if they're important to you it doesn't matter how difficult it is, you keep trying. That is why to answer your question, you need to make that decision."

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked at Karal's hand on his arm.

"And if it might be important to others?"

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"That becomes more difficult," he admitted, giving Liir's arm a quick squeeze before pulling his hand away. "I could help you more if you told me what was wrong."

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He breathed out once before shaking his head.

"Nothing specific. Just another failure in a line of them. Thankfully not with my father. He's... remarkably patient with me."

Fiyero was well skilled in defusing Thropps. And Liir was terribly like his mother. Terribly.

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"All right," he replied, more concerned now. "I'm pleased to hear that he's patient with you."

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked up at Karal with a faint smile.

"It helps to think he probably drove my mother half mad with how he is."

...tolerant, loving, and as optimistic as an Ozian could be.

He breathed in and, still ruminating over what Karal had said only a few minutes earlier, he finished his tea.

"Thank you, Karal. What you said was... very helpful.

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad," he replied, even if he felt like he hadn't helped at all.

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He watched Karal for a moment.

"No, really."

He put the cup of tea down with something of a faint smile and made sure that Altra could see it.

"Thank you. For the tea as well."

He smiled and stood.

"But I should head to work."

Re: Morning before work

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome, Liir." He smiled back. "I hope it's a good day today."

Re: Morning before work

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"It's already better."

He waved just the once before making his way out.