(Untitled)

[dear_of_heart]

Cora wanders into the bar absentmindedly, her hair starting to escape its braid and a large smudge of chalk on her cheek.

She fetches the cumbersome Ducks and Dictators: The History of the Ruling Class of Zenaflp 913 from the library, and orders some tea from a passing waitrat before going to sit down by the fire (though she pauses, a moment, when

Comments

[shall_go_free]

"Are you a fellow book-lover, or are you merely opening this one to pass the time?"

Xas' tone is friendly, but polite, and while he's looking over her shoulder, he's hardly looming.

[dear_of_heart]

Cora looks up, startled from her reading (...a fact that the King Kwrk the 75th...), before smiling. "A bit of both, really. This is the only place that I know that has so many books, you see, though this one is rather strange."

[shall_go_free]

"Strange in terms of story, or--is it one from a world that isn't yours?"

[dear_of_heart]

"It's a history book," she says, showing him the cover, helpfully, "and I'm fairly sure Zee-na-flip nine-hundred-and-thirteen isn't anywhere near Narnia."

[shall_go_free]

For a moment Xas' expression is almost sharp, but--no.

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with either of those places. They're real?"

The zee-na-flip part is just--odd.

[dear_of_heart]

"Well, yes," Cora says, confused. "I've lived in Narnia my whole life, and why would someone write a history book about somewhere that doesn't exist?"

[shall_go_free]

"More scope for storytelling, one might assume."

Xas shrugs.

"I wouldn't know."

[dear_of_heart]

"I've heard they do that, on Earth," she agrees. "I'm Cora, by the by--it is good to meet you."

[shall_go_free]

Xas smiles.

"I'm Xas, and the pleasure is mine, I believe."