Post by Pieni on Feb 3, 2022 12:54:06 GMT
A little slapdash RP between Silvia and Bones in which they go to the library.
-
Silvia has spent almost the entire day asking around for Sorrel and has found nothing except for two facts: Daring Heights has a high population of shifty hooded figures and Sorrel is unsurprisingly good at not being found if she doesn’t want to be. She sighs and heads into Daring Heights academy almost subconsciously. Suddenly she is startled by the presence of a very large red bird.
Bones glances indifferently at the staring woman. Bird-dragon with a gnarled toothed beak, leathery wings, white irises and red whites of the eyes - some unholy amalgamation of red dragon and bearded vulture standing at just over seven feet. He gets these looks a lot. If she stares, he gets to stare too. No comically oversized or obnoxiously numerous weapons, full suits of armour on a casual working day, no animal familiar or conspicuously expensive or magical items worn in the open as if the owner isn't afraid of being stolen from - so no symptoms of being an adventurer so far. She doesn't look like an academic, either, but then neither does he. Best to ask. The silence has dragged on enough that someone has to say something eventually.
"You lost?"
“Uuuuh hi! Sorry, rural upbringing, still not used to people who aren’t…” she trails off whilst vaguely waving her hand in the vague vicinity of her face.
"Red-headed and a bit haunted-looking?" Bones replies dryly, even though he knows exactly what she means.
“Human but yes. I must say though now the shock has worn off the plumage is something magnificent to observe. Apologies, I interrupted.”
"Thanks. It's dyed. Don't ask me how I do it or how long it takes. Aarakocran secrets." He tries a friendly wink, but since he faces people from the side when talking, it just looks like a blink. "You've got quite the scarlet plumage yourself. We're not so different, perhaps."
She chuckles. “Um, well I think you may also be far better with the arcane than I am. Oh I should ask just in case, you wouldn’t have happened to have spotted a woman coming through here. Shadowy, has a bow, quite standoffish, stunningly attractive?”
Bones laughs a little, a low-pitched but gentle sound. "You'd be surprised how little that narrows it down. Not to imply that you have common taste. Care to elaborate?"
“Her name’s Sorrel, she doesn’t tend to be very open to most at first, or second, or third… Anyway as I was saying she’s also a priest of Selune.”
After a pause to think, Bones replies, "Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with them. Probably. I tend not to commit people to memory unless they seem of relevance."
He actually just has a bad memory for faces, but admitting a flaw instead of pretending you forget people on purpose? Never.
"By the sounds of her I doubt you'll find her here. Unless she was browsing the excellent library, which I was about to, and you should too, because it is a very good library."
“It’s also a private library..”
"She doesn't sound like the kind of person for which that would be an obstacle."
“I more meant to imply that it’s an obstacle to my browsing of said library.”
"Hmmm. Well, I could get you in, I suppose." Bones shrugs. "If you want to."
She sighs. “Not like I have anything else to do for a couple of days. Weeks maybe…”
"I'm not plus-one-ing you into one of my favourite libraries with that level of enthusiasm."
“I’m sorry sir. Oh I never introduced myself I don’t think. Silvia, adventurer, somewhat.” She holds out her hand.
Bones grasps her hand in his, large and taloned and professionally firm. "Bones. Mercenary archaeologist. Habitually in the company of what one might call 'adventurers', against my health and best wishes. We probably know some of the same people, then - just not 'Sorrel'."
“Most likely, this is a large and strange land but the adventurers all seem to find each other, it’s a strange case of objective determinism… So what do you specialise in? I doubt the archaeology is the only thing you practice.”
"Are you asking for my academic qualifications or my magical inclinations?"
“Both.”
"I'm a sorcerer. Dragon blood." He gestures to the red scaled hand she just shook, and flicks his lizard-like tail. "I study anthropology, history, the arcane. I suppose I just prefer the theory of people to the practice. And you?"
“Ah, I am a wandering soul, I have a.. Connection to a powerful being who grants me arcane practice. Aside from that my main area is keeping to myself and trying to survive. Not as flashy as yours I’m afraid.”
"A connection. Interesting. I have a small one, too, with the Raven Queen." Bones walks in the same direction he was going before. "Come. To the library with us. If you've spent so much time trying to survive, have you yet learned to thrive? It took me a long time to learn how to live beyond living; I do it through books. If you've not yet found a favoured genre I'll be happy to help."
“Please! I have never been one for reading.”
He pauses his large stride. "Can you read? I know some can't."
“Oh yes definitely.”
Bones nods and continues until they reach the library. "Fiction or nonfiction?"
“Um, yes? A reminder, rural, most of my reading was scripture and menus. And then there was six years of not really being in the most literary of moods or settings..”
"...I was asking if you had a preference between the two," Bones says, "To help narrow down your options."
She looks sheepish and checks to make sure the academic sorts are out of earshot. “I was more implying I have no idea what the difference is, again, never was one for reading books.”
"Ah," Bones says. "You really weren't much for reading. My apologies. Nonfiction books are things like cookbooks, autobiographies, books of art, science, history, religion… my preference, generally. Fiction is fairytales and romance novels and fantasy epics, that sort of thing. In short, fiction books lie and nonfiction doesn't."
“I see, um. Fiction sounds more my bag I must say, not in the mood to read cookbooks for fun..”
"I do enjoy an entertaining lie. This is an academy, so the fiction section is smaller... Well, out of the three examples I gave for fiction, which sounds best to you?" He holds up three clawed fingers. "Fairytales, romance, fantasy. There's more than three kinds, obviously, but it's a place to start."
“Romance is taxing and tiring, fairytales are too whimsical. Fantasy then.”
"Interesting. I think I can find you some non-whimsical, non-taxing fantasy." Bones approaches the appropriate subsection and begins leafing through the books. "Speaking of romance, are you dating this mysterious Sorrel?"
“And what gave you that impression stranger?” Her tone is teasing, she knows but wants to hear what he has to say.
Bones' eyes squint in amusement. "You seem to know a lot about her, wandered all the way here to find her, and called her - what was it - stunningly attractive? Something like that."
She shrugs. “The attractive part was simply objective but yes I do happen to quite fancy her why do you ask?”
"I just thought your comment about romance being taxing was interesting in conjunction with that."
At this Silvia smirks “Well when the person you’re trying to sleep with decides to up and leave because she thinks she’s some dangerous threat that cannot be contained it does get a little taxing but ah well, she needs space clearly. Enough of that, fiction.”
Bones pauses his leafing. "Dangerous threat that cannot be contained. That's…" Relatable, he thinks. "...An interesting way to think of oneself. We've just met so I won't pry further. Not that I would be able to help much. I find romance quite… taxing, too."
He takes a book off the shelf and tosses it to Silvia. "Read the blurb. Writing on the back."
She catches it easily and looks it over, seemingly concentrating hard to read as fast as possible. “Interesting, possibly, if it delivers on these promises that is. I’ve learnt that promises sound great but aren’t always a guarantee.”
"That's the second vague allusion to past drama you've made so far. I warn you - more time and I'll be forced to ask if you want to talk about it."
“Oh no, same drama. Sorrel made some promises.”
"I feel the creep of social norms upon me. Do you want to talk of these promises?"
“Strangely not, I’m enjoying making allusions. So where do I read this just on one of those comfy looking chairs? Also how much does this book cost because if it’s any more than a gold piece I may ask for a different one.”
"It's… it's free. Right. You don't know. Libraries are… book borrowing services. I can borrow this for you so long as you promise to return it in a month."
“...I see. Free books, that you don’t have to pay for, that people trust you to give back. I see…”
"Restriction of information makes for an awfully uninformed society, don't you think? You need a membership and there are late fees and such, though." Bones studies her with a piercing white eye. "I don't particularly want to chase you down and fireball you for not returning a book, but you should know that I will. Well, maybe not fireball. Might burn the book."
“I’m fully aware you’re capable. Don’t worry you’re not the first wizard to threaten me and that’s certainly a much better thing to threaten me over.”
"I'm not a wizard at all, but I'm glad you understand. Here." He tosses her three more books. "If you wish to avoid your problems instead of discussing them, I give thee the tools of escapism."
She catches all three and smiles. The next few hours are spent mostly in silence as Silvia loses herself in the books.
-
Silvia has spent almost the entire day asking around for Sorrel and has found nothing except for two facts: Daring Heights has a high population of shifty hooded figures and Sorrel is unsurprisingly good at not being found if she doesn’t want to be. She sighs and heads into Daring Heights academy almost subconsciously. Suddenly she is startled by the presence of a very large red bird.
Bones glances indifferently at the staring woman. Bird-dragon with a gnarled toothed beak, leathery wings, white irises and red whites of the eyes - some unholy amalgamation of red dragon and bearded vulture standing at just over seven feet. He gets these looks a lot. If she stares, he gets to stare too. No comically oversized or obnoxiously numerous weapons, full suits of armour on a casual working day, no animal familiar or conspicuously expensive or magical items worn in the open as if the owner isn't afraid of being stolen from - so no symptoms of being an adventurer so far. She doesn't look like an academic, either, but then neither does he. Best to ask. The silence has dragged on enough that someone has to say something eventually.
"You lost?"
“Uuuuh hi! Sorry, rural upbringing, still not used to people who aren’t…” she trails off whilst vaguely waving her hand in the vague vicinity of her face.
"Red-headed and a bit haunted-looking?" Bones replies dryly, even though he knows exactly what she means.
“Human but yes. I must say though now the shock has worn off the plumage is something magnificent to observe. Apologies, I interrupted.”
"Thanks. It's dyed. Don't ask me how I do it or how long it takes. Aarakocran secrets." He tries a friendly wink, but since he faces people from the side when talking, it just looks like a blink. "You've got quite the scarlet plumage yourself. We're not so different, perhaps."
She chuckles. “Um, well I think you may also be far better with the arcane than I am. Oh I should ask just in case, you wouldn’t have happened to have spotted a woman coming through here. Shadowy, has a bow, quite standoffish, stunningly attractive?”
Bones laughs a little, a low-pitched but gentle sound. "You'd be surprised how little that narrows it down. Not to imply that you have common taste. Care to elaborate?"
“Her name’s Sorrel, she doesn’t tend to be very open to most at first, or second, or third… Anyway as I was saying she’s also a priest of Selune.”
After a pause to think, Bones replies, "Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with them. Probably. I tend not to commit people to memory unless they seem of relevance."
He actually just has a bad memory for faces, but admitting a flaw instead of pretending you forget people on purpose? Never.
"By the sounds of her I doubt you'll find her here. Unless she was browsing the excellent library, which I was about to, and you should too, because it is a very good library."
“It’s also a private library..”
"She doesn't sound like the kind of person for which that would be an obstacle."
“I more meant to imply that it’s an obstacle to my browsing of said library.”
"Hmmm. Well, I could get you in, I suppose." Bones shrugs. "If you want to."
She sighs. “Not like I have anything else to do for a couple of days. Weeks maybe…”
"I'm not plus-one-ing you into one of my favourite libraries with that level of enthusiasm."
“I’m sorry sir. Oh I never introduced myself I don’t think. Silvia, adventurer, somewhat.” She holds out her hand.
Bones grasps her hand in his, large and taloned and professionally firm. "Bones. Mercenary archaeologist. Habitually in the company of what one might call 'adventurers', against my health and best wishes. We probably know some of the same people, then - just not 'Sorrel'."
“Most likely, this is a large and strange land but the adventurers all seem to find each other, it’s a strange case of objective determinism… So what do you specialise in? I doubt the archaeology is the only thing you practice.”
"Are you asking for my academic qualifications or my magical inclinations?"
“Both.”
"I'm a sorcerer. Dragon blood." He gestures to the red scaled hand she just shook, and flicks his lizard-like tail. "I study anthropology, history, the arcane. I suppose I just prefer the theory of people to the practice. And you?"
“Ah, I am a wandering soul, I have a.. Connection to a powerful being who grants me arcane practice. Aside from that my main area is keeping to myself and trying to survive. Not as flashy as yours I’m afraid.”
"A connection. Interesting. I have a small one, too, with the Raven Queen." Bones walks in the same direction he was going before. "Come. To the library with us. If you've spent so much time trying to survive, have you yet learned to thrive? It took me a long time to learn how to live beyond living; I do it through books. If you've not yet found a favoured genre I'll be happy to help."
“Please! I have never been one for reading.”
He pauses his large stride. "Can you read? I know some can't."
“Oh yes definitely.”
Bones nods and continues until they reach the library. "Fiction or nonfiction?"
“Um, yes? A reminder, rural, most of my reading was scripture and menus. And then there was six years of not really being in the most literary of moods or settings..”
"...I was asking if you had a preference between the two," Bones says, "To help narrow down your options."
She looks sheepish and checks to make sure the academic sorts are out of earshot. “I was more implying I have no idea what the difference is, again, never was one for reading books.”
"Ah," Bones says. "You really weren't much for reading. My apologies. Nonfiction books are things like cookbooks, autobiographies, books of art, science, history, religion… my preference, generally. Fiction is fairytales and romance novels and fantasy epics, that sort of thing. In short, fiction books lie and nonfiction doesn't."
“I see, um. Fiction sounds more my bag I must say, not in the mood to read cookbooks for fun..”
"I do enjoy an entertaining lie. This is an academy, so the fiction section is smaller... Well, out of the three examples I gave for fiction, which sounds best to you?" He holds up three clawed fingers. "Fairytales, romance, fantasy. There's more than three kinds, obviously, but it's a place to start."
“Romance is taxing and tiring, fairytales are too whimsical. Fantasy then.”
"Interesting. I think I can find you some non-whimsical, non-taxing fantasy." Bones approaches the appropriate subsection and begins leafing through the books. "Speaking of romance, are you dating this mysterious Sorrel?"
“And what gave you that impression stranger?” Her tone is teasing, she knows but wants to hear what he has to say.
Bones' eyes squint in amusement. "You seem to know a lot about her, wandered all the way here to find her, and called her - what was it - stunningly attractive? Something like that."
She shrugs. “The attractive part was simply objective but yes I do happen to quite fancy her why do you ask?”
"I just thought your comment about romance being taxing was interesting in conjunction with that."
At this Silvia smirks “Well when the person you’re trying to sleep with decides to up and leave because she thinks she’s some dangerous threat that cannot be contained it does get a little taxing but ah well, she needs space clearly. Enough of that, fiction.”
Bones pauses his leafing. "Dangerous threat that cannot be contained. That's…" Relatable, he thinks. "...An interesting way to think of oneself. We've just met so I won't pry further. Not that I would be able to help much. I find romance quite… taxing, too."
He takes a book off the shelf and tosses it to Silvia. "Read the blurb. Writing on the back."
She catches it easily and looks it over, seemingly concentrating hard to read as fast as possible. “Interesting, possibly, if it delivers on these promises that is. I’ve learnt that promises sound great but aren’t always a guarantee.”
"That's the second vague allusion to past drama you've made so far. I warn you - more time and I'll be forced to ask if you want to talk about it."
“Oh no, same drama. Sorrel made some promises.”
"I feel the creep of social norms upon me. Do you want to talk of these promises?"
“Strangely not, I’m enjoying making allusions. So where do I read this just on one of those comfy looking chairs? Also how much does this book cost because if it’s any more than a gold piece I may ask for a different one.”
"It's… it's free. Right. You don't know. Libraries are… book borrowing services. I can borrow this for you so long as you promise to return it in a month."
“...I see. Free books, that you don’t have to pay for, that people trust you to give back. I see…”
"Restriction of information makes for an awfully uninformed society, don't you think? You need a membership and there are late fees and such, though." Bones studies her with a piercing white eye. "I don't particularly want to chase you down and fireball you for not returning a book, but you should know that I will. Well, maybe not fireball. Might burn the book."
“I’m fully aware you’re capable. Don’t worry you’re not the first wizard to threaten me and that’s certainly a much better thing to threaten me over.”
"I'm not a wizard at all, but I'm glad you understand. Here." He tosses her three more books. "If you wish to avoid your problems instead of discussing them, I give thee the tools of escapism."
She catches all three and smiles. The next few hours are spent mostly in silence as Silvia loses herself in the books.