Library, Thursday

[genesishero]

Evan wasn't anything even remotely resembling productive today during his library shift, no. He'd shown up, and had given a glance to the books that were in need of re-shelving, and had sighed and made a reach for a few. He could take the whole cart with him, but he was caught somewhere between listless and antsy in the worst way, and making a few laps around the library today really couldn't hurt until he managed to figure out which he was going to settle on.

By the time he got back to the desk from shelving those ones, the cart was a little more empty than he remembered leaving it. Another wander into the stacks revealed the reason why- a few of the more uplifting titles had gone ahead and shelved themselves, so that he wouldn't have to.

At least that got a bit of a smile out of him. There was a reason he liked books so much, see?

[Open!]

Comments

Mod Your Library

[genesishero]

You might know exactly what you need, after all.

Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

He's settled on 'listless,' at some point through the day, and is mostly writing off productivity entirely in favor of halfheartedly flipping through a book about positive thinking.

Re: Talk to Evan

[ultron_junior]

Victor had found something that made him sheepish under his bed the night before, and now he was in the library to make things right.

"Hey," he said. "So, uh, I handwavily told you guys I lost one of those poetry books I took out during black and white week? Turns out it got kind of eaten by the junk under my bed." He held up the paperback by way of proof. "I figured I should at least hand it back."

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"Huh, look at that. It'll be happier here among more of its kind than being eaten by under-the-bed junk, I'm sure." Evan gave the book a little tilt of his head, and then offered Victor a tiny, trying to be sincere sort of smile as he reached for it. "But now what are you going to play oatmeal bongos to?"

It was a nice, safe, pleasant topic. Evan could totally go for one of those, today.

Re: Talk to Evan

[ultron_junior]

"Y'know, I've fallen way behind on my bongo practice," Victor said, returning the smile as he passed the book over the counter. He actually was in a pleasant kind of mood, so it was easy. "Which is another reason Ginsberg will be happier here, right?"

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"Just one of many, I'm sure." Evan looked quietly at the book, turning it over in his hands.

A question of the soul.
And the injured
losing their injury
in their innocence.

He shrugged, and then set it face-up on the book cart.

"Not the sort of thing you usually read, I guess? Not going by where you found it, I mean."

Re: Talk to Evan

[ultron_junior]

"Not at all," Victor said, vaguely apologetic. "I mean, I like it fine, but mostly I read comic books and techie stuff. Guess there are reasons I work in the repair shop and you work here. You read poetry for real?"

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"I'll read anything," Evan replied, glancing at the book cart. "Poetry, novels, history books. I'm not really big on comic books, but I do pick up computer magazines and stuff like that sometimes, too. I... guess I just like to know how things work."

Re: Talk to Evan

[ultron_junior]

"History's fun," Victor nodded. "Funny. Guess it's about 'how things work' just as much as technology is, isn't it? All the patterns and backstories behind every little thing."

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

Evan's answering nod was tiny, but it was there.

"I think I was looking for answers, and I didn't even know it at the time. Have you ever done that? Spent time looking into something that was... it was huge, and you didn't know why until it jumped up and bit you in the face?"

Christ, even his dog had a name that was borderline-Apocalypse. Evan wrinkled his nose a little, and then tried to shake it off.

Re: Talk to Evan

[ultron_junior]

"Yeah," Victor said, as if the ground was shifting underneath his feet. "I mean, it didn't start out that way, and I don't want to get into my entire life story, but -- I've definitely asked questions and then wished I hadn't when I found out the answers."

It went along with having Ultron for a dad.

He looked Evan over more closely. "Same thing for you?"

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

Evan gave a tiny nod, looking down at the top of his desk as if he was quietly begging it to go back in time to make him un-ask that question. Because desks could totally do that, sure.

"Living in ignorance wasn't as bad as I thought it was." Go figure. "And then answers come along, like it or not, and... just... nothing makes sense any more. Not all knowledge is worth what it costs to find out."

Yup. Those library fines could be brutal.

Re: Talk to Evan [NFB please]

[ultron_junior]

"I don't know about that, man," Victor said gingerly. "Maybe you're right about some stuff. But if you keep not knowing, you can't do anything to change things. It's more comfortable in the short term, but in the long term ..."

He sighed, studied the desk himself as he decided not to speak in generalities anymore. It was going to make his head hurt, and he had a feeling it wasn't like he'd shock Evan.

"I was supposed to be a supervillain," he said. "That's the reason I even exist. If I hadn't found that out, I'd still be on the path to killing a whole bunch of people I respect. So I can't be too into ignorance."

Re: Talk to Evan

[pulseof_life]

After Ethics, which had for the most part gone over her head simply because schooling requirements had never mattered to her, Yeul wandered down to the library.

She didn’t have much to say or even a desire to check out books but visiting Evan felt like the right thing to do.

"Hello, Evan."

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"Yeul." Evan gave her a little smile- it didn't quite reach his eyes. It probably wouldn't for quite some time. But it was an attempt made, at the very least. "How are you today?"

She was usually doing well, he was starting to realize. Which made it the perfect question to ask. He wanted some good news today.

Re: Talk to Evan

[pulseof_life]

She smiled gently. The attempt was appreciated.

"I am well," she said lightly. "I am halfway done my classes for the week and am thinking of seeing the play tomorrow at the theatre. I am sure it will be interesting, even if I wind up not understanding all the nuances of it." Yeul glanced around. "No Ozzy today?"

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"There's a play?" Evan bit his lip. "I... kind of don't go around the theatre. Raven told me once that maybe that would be for the best."

Something about the guy who worked there who looked like an older version of himself, and how he wouldn't take well to the look of Evan. Yep.

"Ozzy... was chewing on things this morning, so I figured it would be for the best if I didn't bring him in to eat the books."

Re: Talk to Evan

[pulseof_life]

Yeul tilted her head slightly. "Did you want to see the play?" she asked. "My understanding is that it will be a rather silly tale of miscommunication and romance. I do not think being one member of the audience would cause problems, not if you are just there to watch. An audience is appreciated on show nights."

Would it really cause problems?

"Poor Ozzy! But an understandable decision."

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"I... like Wilde," Evan replied, thoughtfully. "I'm familiar with the story. It's pretty good, about mistaken identities, and a guy who grew up not knowing what his roots are, and... lies... there are a lot of lies in it, too."

It maybe hit a little too close to home, when put that way.

"If you want somebody to see it with, I would be interested..."

And to hell with Professor Starsmore. Evan wasn't hurting anything, was he? And he thought he might even have friends in the show.

Re: Talk to Evan

[pulseof_life]

"If you wish to go, I would enjoy your company," Yeul said honestly. "But if you do not wish to, I will understand."

Seriously, Evan, Yeul was the hardest person to upset basically ever.

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

One of the many reasons he enjoyed her company so much.

"You know... I think I will. I need to get out of my room for things that aren't classes and work, right? Otherwise I'll... I'll just be hiding forever. I can't do that."

It would be understandable if he did, but that wasn't how he'd been rai--

...

It just wasn't how he rolled.

Re: Talk to Evan

[pulseof_life]

"All right," she said, smiling. "I would be pleased to have your company in that case. I will pick up tickets later this afternoon then."

Yes, Evan, she was going to buy your ticket.

Re: Talk to Evan

[genesishero]

"I'll pay you back," Evan replied, because... stubbornness? Yes. That was probably it. "I probably even have some money on me, if you give me a moment to dig through my pockets..."

Totally stubbornness.

Talk to the Librarian

[genesishero]

If he's in today!

OOC

[genesishero]

I want to follow Evan's lead and accomplish nothing at all today. Hngh, effort.