[action]

[faterecanted]

[It's been a few days since Van arrived, under less than ideal circumstances. During that time, he felt it was probably wisest to remain incommunicado. The easiest way to assure the others from Auldrant that he was doing nothing threatening was to appear to be doing nothing threatening; and he wasn't... strictly speaking. For the most part, all he'

Comments

placeholder, sorry ;;

[poppetry]

[ Xion is curled up at a table not far from the library entrance when Van enters. There are quite a lot of books scattered on the table's surface; if Van comes close enough to look, he'll see they're mostly medical texts, ranging from the scientific to the holistic to the magic.

Reflexively, she looks up at the sound of someone entering ... then stares for a moment, curious and unable to help herself. ]

placeholder for as long as you need

[faterecanted]

[...Is that girl staring at him?

No, that really shouldn't surprise Van. Even without being known as a leader in the Order, he's still a man with natural presence. Natural presence that he intentionally adds to with his hair, his grooming, his clothing choices... He spent a lot of time and effort making Van Grants a man that people paid attention to.

So that was still working. Good.

Among the books he's looking for in this pokey little excuse for a library are anything with information on miasma toxicosis. Which means he'll end up at her table sooner or later, as she's clearly pulled most of the medical texts off the shelves.

He glances at a chair across from her, and then back at her face.] May I?

THANK YOU. ;;

[poppetry]

[ There really was something about him ... a certain presence she wouldn't have been able to put a finger on if asked. But then he'd walked away, and she'd let the thought slip away, returning her attention to her books.

It's only when she hears his voice that she actually startled out of her thoughts -- and her book -- to look up at him. ] Oh -- sure! Sorry it's kind of messy... [ She smiles apologetically and sets down the book she was reading to clean up a few of the notes she'd taken and the still-open books here and there. ]

np, bb

[faterecanted]

If you don't mind, I may need those -- if you're finished with them.

[Although the chances of a book specific to Auldrant ending up on her table are slim, it's not unthinkable. There was probably some information in them that would be useful to anyone.]

[poppetry]

It's okay. I probably didn't need this many anyway... [ She gently pushes a few his way, smiling warmly, if a little self-consciously. ] Were you looking for something? Maybe I can help.

[faterecanted]

Books on diseases. You seem to have the whole library. [His tone is gently amused; a tone he's almost certainly used on Luke before. Although it's unthinkable that Luke would ever have every book in a library on a subject.]

I doubt there's anything to find; but there's no harm in looking.

[Since he appears to be welcome here, he pulls the chair across from her out and sits down -- angled to the side, to keep his legs out of her space.]

[poppetry]

I don't! ... well ... maybe half of it. [ That gets a grin. But diseases, he said... she pokes through a pile to her left and manages to pull up this, and push it his way. ]

I guess it depends on what sort of disease you're looking for. [ Her grin turns into a thoughtful frown. ] ... I mean, I'm still learning. But if I can help, I'll try.

I swear I wasn't going to drop this

[faterecanted]

[His research needs go so very far beyond that, but he's not going to openly call attention to it. It would be unspeakably rude, and you just don't earn trust by being unspeakably rude and dismissive.

That comes afterward.]

You must be an industrious student. Most I know would only bother with one book, or two.

THAT IS OKAY. no worries. |Db

[poppetry]

[ Such a flatterer, Van. It works, too. ]

Well ... recently a doctor in the village agreed to take me on as a student. I promised him I'd work hard... [ She shakes her head. She shouldn't talk so much about herself! ] I hope you find what you're looking for. [ A beat. Then, a look of concern crosses her face. ] ... wait, you're not sick, are you? [ Looking at books on diseases... ]

[faterecanted]

[He shifts his expression to a friendly if tired smile. One that looks just a little drawn around the edges. It's a calculated move, to make him less threatening. Just a bit worn out. Just in need of a little care and assistance.

One could always make use of a healer, after all. Even a barely trained one.]

It's nothing you should worry about. An old soldier like me picks up all sorts of problems. [He isn't old. He's in the prime of his life. But 27 usually sounds old, to a teenager, and he'd estimate he looks still a few years beyond that.]

[poppetry]

[ She pauses for a moment, as if she doesn't quite believe him ... but lets it go. ] So you're a soldier... how old are you, anyway? ... if you don't mind me asking. [ She laughs, quietly. ] I'm Xion, by the way.

[faterecanted]

How old do you think I am? [His tone is light, amused. Teasing?]

[poppetry]

... um. [ She bites her lip, still kind of smiling. ] I dunno. I'm not really that good with ages. [ Being not even three. ] You don't look old, though!

[faterecanted]

Twenty-seven. [Said slyly over the top of a book.] But that's ancient in soldier years. [So says the general that grew a beard because he was too young to be taken seriously in the position.]

[poppetry]

[ Xion laughs. She likes this guy -- even if he hasn't told her his name yet. ] It's not that old! Still way older than I am, though.

[faterecanted]

I'm flattered. My many teenage [subordinates] colleagues would likey disagree. You seem about their age.