006 [ action ]

[hakoiri]

[ Several books in tow, Alf can be seen making his way to the library, clad in a white uniform he's been wearing often this past week. When he reaches his destination, he sets the books onto a table in the corner and pulls out another from a nearby bookshelf. He returns to the table, seats himself and reads. He eventually opens another book for

Comments

[consultmybooks]

[Giles, who has been a bit distracted lately, doesn't quite recognize the person sitting and reading the books before he recognizes the books.]

Excuse me, are you finished with this one? [He's either indicating a book on tea, or a book on strategy.]

[hakoiri]

[Looking up to the speaker, Alf blinks, then straightens.]

Ah, Mister Giles! About the books you provided . . . [He gestures to the books on tea.] I finished them last month, but I only just brought them back. Sorry for the delay.

[consultmybooks]

[Blink.]

A-Alf? Good Lord, you...[Look different. But, then again, who doesn't this week?]

Um, y-yes. The books. I'm afraid I'd just about forgotten about them.

[hakoiri]

Regardless, here they are.

[He's about to say more when he stops, a curious look on his face.]

"Alf" . . . ? Is that a nickname?

[consultmybooks]

[Giles stares at Alf for a second, disbelieving, and then he takes off his glasses and starts cleaning them.]

Um, n-no. Sorry. You just, ah, caught me a bit by surprise.

[hakoiri]

[He nods along with the explanation, the look of confusion fading.]

That explains it. I've never been called that before, so . . .

[consultmybooks]

[Giles has to think for a second, wondering if he's ever actually heard Alf's full name...

...then he realizes that, no, he hasn't, and tries to fake it. Subject change time!]

Well, um, the books. Were the useful?

[hakoiri]

[Oh, Giles. Alf nods again, resting a hand on the topmost book of the small pile.]

Very useful -- and interesting, given they were different from my usual reading material.

[consultmybooks]

[Fortunately, this strangeness is at least taking place in Giles' "domain". He can keep his feet, here.] Well, I suppose they would be. What is your usual reading material, if you don't mind my asking?

[hakoiri]

[At that he takes the hand off the books and gestures to the open ones he's been taking notes on.]

Mostly study material, as you can see.

[consultmybooks]

[He notes the non-tea books. Strategy, battle tactics, hm...]

What are you studying?

[hakoiri]

Anything that'd be of help in the military, really.

[consultmybooks]

For the war?

[hakoiri]

It's more that I'm trying not to forget my lessons back at the academy . . . but I guess it can be for the war, too.

[consultmybooks]

[Don't mind Giles, he'll just pick up one of the books Alf doesn't appear to have been reading a flip through it.]

Seems like you've had a useful education, certainly.

[hakoiri]

[Don't mind at all, he simply watches and turns to his notes.]

Yes, for my mother.