(Untitled)

[ainsophaured]

[It's not at all strange to find people in the library. In fact, it might be the most normal, mundane activity a character can do. Aster is one of the people who enjoys sitting and reading for hours on end, researching every little thing he can get his hands on.

So it's not at all strange to find piles of books, nearly resembling a fort, in an

Comments

[pactum]

[Emil is trying to guess that, actually, as he picks his way through the book fort and discovers the hiding place of the boy who looks just like him.]

... Do you need help?

[ainsophaured]

[He sees Emil and expected a different tone from him. It's not what Aster expected. That's strange. Aster waves down at him with a sheepish smile.]

Hello, Emil.

Yes. It seems to look that way.

[pactum]

[He feels his stomach sink into the floor. Try as he might, he just can't smile back. Tenebrae and Marta filled him in as much as they could, but nothing could really prepare him for this meeting. It's worse than when he saw the video message, because all his doubts about his identity are sitting right in front of him, and he can't deny it anymore.

Still, he's brimming with questions. They fight with each other to the point where nothing can make it out.]

... oh.

[And suddenly, inexplicably, he wants to cry.]

[ainsophaured]

[The smile he wore immediately vanishes from his face the longer he looks at Emil. Today there's something different. He can tell in the way Emil talks, the way he acts and even how he holds himself. Aster lays on his stomach to look at him closer and stares down with a concerned expression.]

...Emil? Are you okay?

[notameliajones]

[Matti was just looking through those books when she heard the voice. She looks up and immidiately manages to send herself into panic mode.]

A-A-Aster..! A-are you... I-I mean... h-h-how did you even get up there...?

[ainsophaured]

[Where's that voice coming from? Oh. He looks over the edge and smiles down at her. Aster doesn't look too concerned about his situation as he waves.]

Hello, Canada!

I believe there was a ladder at one point. It seems to have gone missing now.

[notameliajones]

[And she thought sis was thoughtless.]

D-did you really go all the way up there for some books....? O-oh maple....

[ainsophaured]

Of course! They looked interesting.

[Still smiling away like nothing's wrong.]

How are you?

[enduringwinter]

[Goddess, he remembers Aster's habits from Sybak but this was just a little ridiculous wasn't it?

Richter maneuvers through the book fort at this own pace, stopping occasionally to take a look at what his friend was doing before continuing. He stops with a sigh once Aster's voice drifts down from higher up]

Somehow, I'm not surprised...

Aster!

[ainsophaured]

[Hearing Richter's voice makes him go from full on concentration to attentive smiles in a few seconds. He lowers a hand, waves, and grins.]

Richter! It's good to see you.

[He raises up a book, the title probably impossible to see, and says cheerfully.]

I found so many great books up here. It's incredible.

[enduringwinter]

[he doesn't wave back, just shakes his head with a hand on his hip]

That's nice to hear but did you have a plan for getting back down? [Richter's attention moves back to floor level. Shouldn't there be a ladder around here somewhere...?]

[ainsophaured]

Not yet. I'm in the process of figuring it out.

[There should be one somewhere. That's how he got up there, at any rate. Maybe they took it far away when this short kid disappeared at the top.]

[formervanguard]

[Staaare.]

Aster! Be careful up there, you're going to fall!

[ainsophaured]

[Stares right back down. Also, he waves. Isn't that nice?]

Hello, Marta. Don't worry. As long as I don't move too much, I don't believe I'll fall.

[formervanguard]

[Marta waves back, half-heartedly... she's a little more worried about him falling. djafkls]

Okay... Well, do you want help down? Or were you just going to stay up there with all of those books?

[ainsophaured]

It wasn't my intent to stay up here. Your help would be appreciated.

[guyexplains]

[Guy was hunting for a book on mechanics, some obscure text about Dawn Age technology, and then he got sidetracked in references and... Well long story short there's a book fort in front of him and a blond above him. How on earth did Aster manage that?]

Hey, need a hand?

[ainsophaured]

[It's a pleasant surprise to see Guy here. Aster waves his own hand at him as a greeting like this is a normal everyday occurrence.]

Correct. I could use a couple hands actually.

[guyexplains]

Haha, I can see that. [He looks around for a later, some way to help Aster down...]

How'd you get up there in the first place?

[ainsophaured]

I was getting some books from the top shelf and I leaned over to see if there were books on the opposite side.

[There's a very short pause before he adds]

...However, I accidentally kicked the ladder over in the process.