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Library, Thursday All Day

Evan hadn't been paranoid, per se, as he walked into the library for his shift. It was just that it had been a while since the books had done something really crazy on his watch, and he wasn't about to let himself get comfortable while there was still a chance of things going crazy on him while he was working.

At least he didn't have to wait long before he noticed what the weirdness of the day was. The books had set up a sort of speedway down the aisles, and all manner of books about car racing were competing to see who was the fastest read.

A very pink book containing tips and tricks for playing the arcade game, Sugar Rush, was definitely giving the rest of the books a run for their money, today.

"Just so long as you guys put yourselves away when you're done," Evan decided, and then settled back to watch the races.

[Open, but flying without OCD because I'm not battling with the goat any more than necessary this morning.]

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Yeul wandered into the library about mid-morning. She did not have a particular reason for doing so but then visiting the library was hardly something that required a real reason.

Making her way over to where Evan was, she followed his gaze. "Are they racing?" she asked curiously. "Hello, Evan."

Sholeh barely glanced at the track set up. After all, she was used to book shenanigans. "I have some books to return," she said, lugging a pile towards the desk. Sure, she could have returned them on her shift yesterday, but, you know, things.

Okay, because she was having a conundrum and she wanted to talk it through with someone and liked having an excuse.

"Kant writes books like he's in the running for the densest prose award," she grumbled, setting them on the counter. "It kind of ridiculous."

Oh, honey. Just wait till you started reading Judith Butler.

"Hi, Yeul! They are," Evan confirmed, watching a book about the Kentucky Derby round the corner, and then lose its footing to go careening into a shelf. "I'm kind of worried that they're going to end up all dog-eared or something, but they're having so much fun, I don't know if I have the heart to tell them to stop."

They were kind of adorable, was the thing.

"Personally, I think he was showing off," Evan offered, poking through the books on the counter thoughtfully. "But that's kind of to be expected. You're interested in philosophy?"

Yeul winced at the crash even as the book shook itself out, a few pages crinkled but otherwise seeming to be in good spirits. "I think they know their limits better than we do," she said, smiling slightly. "Though I suppose that might be peculiar anywhere but here."

"Kind of," Evan agreed, nodding. "My last school had a habit of attacking us while we walked down the hallways, but we never had to worry about the books throwing themselves around like this."

Which was almost a shame, really. Evan kind of wished he had books with this much personality to his name, too.

"I wonder if the books are like this because of how long they’ve been here?"

Perhaps if they left their books in the library long enough it would happen to them too!

Your school attacked you?" Yeul asked. "The building, you mean? Or the faculty...?"

Or the students?

"The building," Evan clarified. "It was supposed to be for training purposes, or maybe the school's security system, because... it's kind of prone to people trying to blow it up? But it sort of has a mind of its own and attacks people out of nowhere."

When there were giant sawblades in the lunchroom, you tended to be careful about portion control.

"At least the books are just up to mischief. They really don't want to hurt anyone."

Yeul watched the books race for a few minutes before answering any of that.

"Why was it prone to people trying to blow it up?" Her voice was tentative, like she wasn't sure she was supposed to ask.

Like she wasn't sure he'd be willing to answer.

Evan went quiet at that question, holding his breath and watching the books while he worked on coming up with an answer that wasn't going to make his heart twist in his chest to say aloud. That... probably wasn't going to happen, so he inhaled, squared his shoulders, and let it all out in the shape of words.

"They don't like us," he replied. "I mean, people like me, mutants. There are a lot of humans out there that hate us or are afraid of us because we're different, and my last school was a school for mutants, to keep us safe and train us with our powers and so we're sort of like... well, not really like sitting ducks, because ducks can't fight back quite the same way we can, but it's kind of something you get used to, being attacked all the time by people who don't want you alive."

Not something he wanted to be used to, granted. But.

"I’m sorry," she said quietly, glancing at him and then, feeling that he might like some comfort that was more than words, reaching out carefully to try and touch his arm. "I did not mean to make you think of unpleasant things. My question was inconsiderate."

Doubly, triply, unpleasant when that was his reality.

"I am glad that it is not like that for you here."

Evan gave his shoulders a shrug. Quick, dismissive. Nothing was bothering him at all, see? And besides, her hand on his shoulder was reassuring. For as far away from home as he was, and as far away as he'd need to stay, it was nice for someone to just reach out to him, unafraid.

"I'm glad it's not like that here, either," he admitted. "But that's not why I came here. I mean, not... quite like that, anyhow. People here are really... nice. I mean, they're not cruel, here. At least not on purpose. Not that I've noticed."

Yeul ducked her head. "I have not noticed anyone being cruel either," she said softly. "Perhaps it's because, here, so many of us have things to deal with that there's no time for needless cruelty."

Or those who dealt in cruelty were around but neither she nor Evan had talked to them.

"It's a nice thought, isn't it? Being somewhere like that? Though it rather makes our home worlds gloomier in comparison, which I did not intend. I did not mean for our conversation to go like this," Yeul shared, a bit ruefully. "I simply thought it would be nice to visit you, just because."

"I know," Evan replied, offering her a little smile and taking a breath. "I appreciate your company, actually. I really should start taking more time to visit friends, myself."

Instead of hiding away with his books? Yes, probably.

"We could talk about happier things? About how school is going, and stuff like that?"

"I have been told that friends are important. Visiting them might do you good."

She shrugged a little. Friends were something, all right. Her feelings were rather mixed this week.

"We could talk about happier things," she said agreeably and smiled back. Yeul was easy like that. "How have your classes been going?"

He'd suggested the topic!

And so he had only himself to blame!

"Mine? Pretty okay, I guess. Professor Tomoe might be a little crazy, and Professors GLaDOS and Lensherr are kind of cranky, but Professor Lannister and Lady Ghanima are both okay, and I think I might be learning a lot. How are yours?"

Edited 2012-11-16 01:40 (UTC)

"I was interested in Kant," Sholeh said awkwardly. "We studied him in Ethics and Professor Anakin said he was against lying completely. No exceptions. I kind of wanted to see for myself if that's what he believed. I guess it is." She shrugged a little. "I don't, umm, necessarily agree. Do you?"

Go on and ask the budding hero an ethical question! Because that wouldn't make Evan's little brain hurt!

"I... don't know," he admitted, honestly enough. "I think maybe it would depend on the lie, and the reasons for it... But my parents would be really disappointed in me for saying something like that. Pa used to say that lies just led to more and more lies, until eventually you don't even know what the truth is that you're trying to hide any more, or why. I don't think I'd like to find myself in that situation, if I can help it."

Spoiler: He wouldn't be able to help it.

Hey! Heroes had to answer the hard ones!

"Oh." Sholeh said softly. "But you understand that sometimes people need to? I mean, philosophically speaking."

Professor Starsmore was right. She was crap at this.

"Like, if you had a good reason for lying, it wouldn't make you a bad person, right?"

"I think... maybe it would make you a good person who didn't know what else to do," Evan offered. "But I think maybe it would be... really important to be careful about that lie?"

He had no idea. He still wasn't much of a liar, himself.

"What do you mean 'careful'?" Sholeh asked, head tilting. "Careful about what?"

"Careful that it doesn't hurt anybody," Evan replied, simply enough. "Because that's... kind of what lies do, isn't it?"

"Professor Electroclash is pretty cranky," she said, "but her TA, Sparkle, is nice, even though he tends to wander around a subject oddly sometimes."

It was a compliment! Really!

"Professor Starsmore's class is the one I like best. It is for those who live on the outskirts and how to deal with that." Yeul shrugged slightly. "Professor Lannister and Professor Atreides are very clever people but I cannot say I am learning much in their class, through not fault of theirs. I do not believe their subject matter is meant for someone like myself."

"I don't know if Two Lions is for someone like me, either, for what it's worth," Evan offered. "I'm... really not the ruler sort."

Countless incarnations of En Sabah Nur before him were rolling over at that, embedded in his very DNA.

"Not even a benevolent one?" Yeul teased gently. "Bringing fairness to everyone?"

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Library, Thursday All Day

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