Fun in the library

[deus_per_libri]

Characters: Alfons Heiderich blau_rakete, Yagami Light deus_per_libri.
When: September 3rd.
Where: The library
Rating: PG
Summary: Light just wants a friend. No, really.

Comments

Fff, I have half a hard drive full of screencaps OTL

[blau_rakete]

"Definitely," Alfons said with a nod. "Und I vas lucky enough that somevone from my vorld vas here before me, so I vas not completely alone. Some people that come here... they do not know anyvone at first, und they alvays look so... sad," he said quietly. "No matter how friendly ve all are or how much ve help, there ist no vay to replace a friend or loved vone. So I feel very lucky."

Alfons moved down the bookshelf a little, going to start working on a new section while leaving Light just a few paces over on another shelf. Like this, they wouldn't get in the other's way when they got to the books in the middle. Spotting a rather large book, Alfons pulled it out and frowned to see that it was so dusty he couldn't even read it. He blew on it lightly, but only a bit of the dust came off. With a harder puff of air, the rest of the dust flew off of the book, settling in the air instead.

It wasn't until a few moments later when Alfons felt a familiar tickle in his throat that he realized his mistake. He cleared his throat a few times, struggling to keep himself calm. He'd done that before, inhaled a bit of dust or dirt... he'd been fine, only had a scratch and maybe coughed once, so he'd be f-- Alfons' hand quickly raised to cover his mouth as he felt his lungs burn slightly, trying to hold back the coughs. As long as there wasn't blood, he could lie, could say he was just allergic to dust...

Only half?! Work harder at the 'capping, young woman!

[deus_per_libri]

"Yes, I feel rather lucky too, for having someone I know here," Light said, easily. There was no point in hiding his connection with L; the facts would come out anyway, and silence on that point would just look odd. "He's not someone I -"

And suddenly Alfons was coughing, and looking oddly panicked. He stopped in the middle of pulling out yet another book and bent down, honestly concerned.

"Are you all right?" he asked, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Should I get you something to drink? I think I saw an old drinks machine in the lobby..."

Pft, I download the 'caps, I don't take them D: I'd have no time for RP if I 'capped them XD

[blau_rakete]

Damnit...

He just had to stay calm. If he stayed calm, took deep breaths, he could stop things from getting worse. He just had to take deep breaths and--

There was a wet sound, deep in Alfons' chest when he inhaled next and suddenly he fell to his knees, finally giving in to the pain and letting the blood come up, quickly staining the sleeves of his jacket and the carpet beneath him. Almost as quickly as it had begun, the coughs trailed off, still sounding rather unsettling, but at least there wasn't any more blood.

Wiping at his lips, Alfons stayed silent, his eyes quickly losing their usual light. Hardly anyone knew about his illness... and even some of those that did know weren't aware of just how bad it was. And now, someone he barely knew, that had just arrived here days before... had seen him in one of his coughing fits, knew exactly how sick he was.

Oh, all right, then. You're forgiven. Only just. <3

[deus_per_libri]

His eyes widened in horror at the sight of the blood. Haemorrhaging from the lungs? And racking coughs... and Alfons was from the early twentieth century. The pieces clicked into place, and he patted the boy's shoulder, the touch very gentle.

"Can you stand?" he asked, concern in his voice. "We should get you outside, to stop the dust irritating your lungs more. And we can pick up something for you to drink on the way."

So, tuberculosis, then. That would do. He wondered how far the boy was gone; the best and safest option was obviously to let things progress naturally.

If I was busy 'capping, I couldn't be here, leading Alfons to his death <3

[blau_rakete]

Alfons closed his eyes and nodded. He could stand, he could walk... He could do almost everything, even after a coughing fit. He'd had to do everything for himself, because he didn't want others to know, to fuss over him, to worry...

Slowly, Alfons opened his eyes and got to his feet, unsteady for just a few seconds before he caught his balance. Without a word, Alfons pulled his coat off, using it to wipe the blood from his hands and mouth. He'd have to go to Alphonse that night, so that he could Alchemize the stains out. Again.

You make a strong case!

[deus_per_libri]

And Alfons was clearly embarrassed. This had to be negotiated carefully; if he was too mortified by what had happened, it could interrupt their budding friendship. That would not be an ideal development; he needed to get close to the boy before he died.

"I'm not sure how to act, or what to say, in order to make you more comfortable," he said, quietly, as they began to walk towards the exit. He kept his steps slow and measured, since exertion wasn't a good idea, in the circumstances. "Would you prefer me to simply pretend I saw nothing?"

Well, the boy won't just go and die on his own...

[blau_rakete]

Even just getting out of that small area they'd been in made it easier for Alfons to breathe. Really, he should have known that would have happened, should have realized and not done it.

When Light spoke, Alfons just blinked a few times. He'd... never had anyone react like that before. Light was still concerned like everyone else was, but... he wasn't trying to force his own worries and solutions onto Alfons. Finally, once he was sure that speaking wouldn't set off more coughing, Alfons cleared his throat a bit and spoke.

"Just... do not tell others about it, ja?" Alfons said quietly as he followed Light outside. "There are not many who know; Unohana, because she treats me, those who live vith me, und a few others. I just... I do not vant people to vorry, to feel sorry for me... I do not expect you to forget vhat you saw, but please, do not treat me any different than before."

Tch! So lazy of him.

[deus_per_libri]

Not many others who knew? The information set off small warning bells, but they stopped the moment Alfons went on. Unohana was the perfect witness; she was evidently a woman of some standing in the community, and was qualified to vouch for the fact that Alfons was, in actual fact, ill. There could be no logical reason for suspicion to fall on him, especially since what he intended to do was to wait it out.

"I won't tell anyone," he said, his tone calm and serious. "And I'll do my best to act as I would normally, though you must forgive me this..." Taking off his jacket, he placed it on a nearby bench, so the boy wouldn't get cold from sitting. "Just wait here, and I'll get you that drink." Turning on his heel, he disappeared into the lobby, returning a moment later with cold fizzy lemonade.

Huzzah! Back after over 12 hours of sleep >>; *Had been up for almost 40 hours before Dx*

[blau_rakete]

Alfons nodded, a slight smile on his lips. He knew there were some things that would change, when people found out about his illness. Some things had to change, really. But as long as the pity and help wasn't overdone, Alfons was fine. Laying his jacket out so that Alfons wouldn't get cold? That was perfectly fine. It was when people insisted on coddling the boy that he wouldn't tolerate it.

Sitting down on the bench, Alfons closed his eyes, taking in slow, deep breaths. It didn't take long for the cleaner air outside to clear out his lungs a bit and the lingering ache in his chest quickly faded to nothing. When he heard footsteps, Alfons opened his eyes and saw Light coming back over again.

"Danke," he said quietly, taking the drink from him. He popped it open and took a sip, then just stared at it. "Ve can go back inside," Alfons finally said. "Und finish vhat ve vere doing. So long as I do not breathe in too much dust again, I vill be fine. But ve can vait for another time, if you vould rather."

Huzzah indeed! Hope you had sweet dreams.

[deus_per_libri]

Now, what would be the best and most natural response to that? He honestly wasn't sure: insisting that they stop would maybe be a bit too patronising, whereas suggesting that they went inside again might come across as callous. He smiled, sitting down beside Alfons and leaning back on his hands, relaxing.

"It's really just a matter of blind searching, isn't it?" he asked, looking at him. "It seems like there's no consistent system in place, so I'll just have to look through section after section. It's kind of you to want to help, but I'm sure I can handle it on my own."

Tags'll be kinda slow for a bit. Making iconses~

[blau_rakete]

"Ja," Alfons said with a nod. "Some of the books are still in the proper sections, but... there ist no 'Adstringendum' section for us to look in. Vho knows vhere they would be..." he said, sighing quietly. Turning to look at Light, Alfons shrugged. "There ist not much else for me to do in this place," he said. "And I spend much of my time in the library already. It ist no trouble to help you look for a few books."

No worries! And happy icon-making!

[deus_per_libri]

That was as clear an expression of intent as any, so he nodded, accepting Alfons' judgement of himself and his situation.

"We'll have another look in a little while, then," he agreed, calmly. "I think I'll get a drink for myself first, though. The dust was pretty annoying." He got to his feet and disappeared into the lobby again, luring another can out of the half-broken machine. He wondered how far gone Alfons really was; the blood had been fairly copious, but he seemed to have recovered well enough, and he didn't look particularly wasted. However, if he remembered his medical history, turberculosis was pretty much touch and go; it was really a matter of when the lungs wore away over a critical area, puncturing the aorta.

"You like the library?" he asked, joining Alfons again. For now, there was no hurry: he needed to get to know the boy well, in any case. Really, he should be more worried that it might take Alfons too little time to die, rather than too much. "Is there anything in particular you're researching?"

<3~

[blau_rakete]

By the time Light returned, Alfons was almost completely recovered from his coughing fit. There was a bit more color in his face again, his breaths were coming much easier and without any wheezing or scratchy sounds; if it wasn't for the few blood stains over his shirt and the slightly rattled look in his eyes, there would be no signs that anything had even happened.

At Light's question, Alfons shrugged. "Anything that looks interesting," he said. "But mostly books about rocketry und flight in our vorld, from after my time. I did not manage to get a rocket to fly before I vas pulled here, so I vant to know vhat happened. I do know that rocketry und flight developed further, but I am curious to know the details."

^^

[deus_per_libri]

He took a sip of his drink and sat down beside Alfons again, considering.

"I know a little bit about it," he said, honestly. "No details, or anything, but we studied flight a bit in physics, at school. I might be able to tell you something. What exactly is it you want to know?"

He glanced at the boy, a little disgusted at the sight of blood stains. But his expression was relaxed and friendly, deepening into a smile.

"I think we have to be about the same age, isn't that right?" he added. "And you're already a rocket scientist. I'm just a student..."

Icons done, ffff. *Dead*

[blau_rakete]

"I am not sure if you would know the sort of things that I am interested in," Alfons said, even chuckling a little. "I vant to learn about the technical aspects; formulas, construction, vhat the fuels are made up of, any details I can find, really."

Alfons took another drink of the lemonade, then looked over at Light and nodded. "Ve do look the same age, ja," he said. "I am seventeen. I vas studying rocketry under a professor for a year or so, und started to vork on the rockets vhen I vas... fifteen, almost sixteen."

Did they end up all pretty? ^^

[deus_per_libri]

"You're probably right," he agreed, with a bashful smile, deciding not to tell Alfons what little he did know. It was better that the boy had an area in which he felt superior, especially given his evident passion for the subject.

"You've been working that long?" he added, curious. "You left school at fifteen, then? I've just turned eighteen, and left school for university only a short while ago. I feel childish, compared to you."