Library [09/19]

[furnaceface]

Today, Jonothon could already tell, was going to be one of those days in the library.

Not really a bad one, no. Just a weird one. And not in really big, terrible ways, either. Just in subtle, strange ones. Or, rather, one subtle, strange one in particular.

//I put you away. I've put you away twelve times. And I know we bloody well don't have that many copies of you.//

The book sat there, innocently. Watching. Waiting.

Jonothon shook his head and walked away. Ten minutes later, when he looked again, the book wasn't there. No, it was perched happily in his seat, instead.

//I hate you.//

The library is, of course, open.

Comments

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//I'm being followed about by a book on long-necked, even-toed ungulates,// Jono reported. Because somehow, that seemed less insane than going, 'so, there's this book about giraffes.' //So... not much different from th'norm, I suppose. And how're you, luv?//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"The student body of this school has no good sense," she sighed. "But I'll survive."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Well, for what it was worth, Jono had voted for her.

British solidarity.

//Really, there are worse fates than avoiding politics,// Jono offered. //For all that helps, I'm certain. Bunch of red tape, mostly.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"I had such plans," she sighed. "I was thinking for homecoming we could have the theme be 'squirrels.' Or possibly 'giraffes.'"

...what?

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Congratulations, Jenny. You were now the object of affection for a slightly amorous book filled with absolute rubbish. About conveyor belts. Don't be surprised if it follows you home.

//Well, th'first is definitely thematic. Anybody coming back to the island for the dance would certainly think so. I can't imagine you'd be doing poorly at all in the eyes of th'shorter, more hairy radio staff, at that.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

Why was there a book leaning against her leg and where had it come from?

"Yes, but." She sighed deeply. "It was not to be." And then, because she was constitutionally incapable of being emo for more than two minutes at a stretch, she asked, "How's life?" and tried to nudge the book away with her foot. Key word here being 'tried' as it was suddenly back.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Busy,// Jono replied, shrugging. //Trying to put a band together. Trying to keep my head on my shoulders while I'm at it. Really, I have no idea how I manage to get talked into these things.//

He was a pushover. That was how.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny really would not be surprised if this book started humping her leg. "A band?" she asked. "Don't look at me. I can't sing a note."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Jono, meanwhile, was just very thankful that it wasn't following him around anymore. Sorry, Jenny.

//Well, that would make two of us,// he noted. //But at least I play guitar. Fortunately for you, it doesn't take any effort at all to be in the audience.//

Hint. Hint.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny huffed a sigh and said, "I might be persuaded."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//November fifth. There'll be a bonfire,// Jono replied. He was not above wheedling, no. //In any case, it'll probably be easier on you if you give in and agree to go now. Rinoa's th'one who put me up to this. And that girl's a bloody force of nature.//

See previous narrative Re: Jonothon being a pushover.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"Rinoa," Jenny said. "I should have known."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Can't see me getting my shite together and forming a band on my own?//

Well... he probably wouldn't, granted.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"No," Jenny said, because she didn't know whether he was as lazy as she always wanted to be or not, "but it definitely explains the outdoor concert with bonfire."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Apparently, that answer was good enough for Jonothon, because he nodded a little, and then leaned back against the desk.

//True enough. I probably would have at least aimed for a gig at Caritas.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"There's liquor there," Jenny said, like the presence of liquor made it automatically a better option, which, let's face it, it did.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Audiences are so much more forgiving wherever there's liquor,// Jono agreed. //They're also a little freer with their wallets.//

Which was always night right around the time of night where you pointed to your open guitar case, because the pub you were playing in was too cheap to actually have paid entertainment.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny deliberately understood because she was annoying like that: "Picking pockets, Mr. Starsmore?"

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Only on th'very rare occasion that I think I won't get caught,// Jono decided, mostly joking. Really, on the very long list of stupid things he used to do for extra quid, picking pockets was probably nowhere near the top. //I'll leave yer pockets out of this, though. I'm really quite thoughtful that way.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

Jenny really wasn't the wisest target for pickpocketing, being a walking taser and all. "So," she said, kicking the book away again and changing the subject, "D'you know a William Murdoch? He might be new." Judging from the tab he'd racked up, that was her first guess, anyway.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Jono headtilted a bit, scratching at his shin for a moment with his boot, and then casually put his foot down. On top of the book.

Take that, Giraffes.

//I've met him ones. He came in asking about medical journals his first weekend in. He is new, yes.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"He owes me money," Jenny said. "A lot of money. Ariel let him buy clothes on IOU."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Ah, yes. And now the conversation had gone full circle from Jenny's insane little sibling right around to Jonothon's.

//She... really has no concept of commerce, does she?// He shook his head a bit. //Th'things that gel will do for a pretty face.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[ashockingbitch]

"I also had some blonde girl complaining that Ariel was demanding kisses before she'd sell clothes." Not that Jenny had cared. "Right now I'm just concerned with getting money from this Murdoch character."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Well, if I spot him, I'll be certain to let you know where he's at,// offered Jono. //Or I suppose I could put those pickpocketing talents of mine to use...//

The pickpocketing skills that he really didn't have. It was hard to snatch things from people's pockets unnoticed when you smelled like a burning junkyard.