[closed] Oh Captain, my Captain.

[respectedboy]

Dean hadn't exaggerated when he told his roommate that he would be spending most of his time in the library.

He's there now, in fact, dragging a hand along the shelf edge with less excitement than he normally would.  Fiction, non-fiction, reference.  His entire life feels like a laughable farce, now, so what's the difference between books?  Reality

Comments

[paper_due]

Mark left all but his absolutely essential books at home, so here he is in the library, looking for reading material. He's already got something in mind, running his finger over the spines of the books as he checks the call numbers.

And then suddenly there's someone sitting in front of the next shelf. Right where the book he wants should be.

"Um. Would you mind moving a little?"

[respectedboy]

"Hm?"

Engrossed in A Study in Scarlet - one of his favorites by far - Dean glances up and takes in a slightly rumpled student who looks like he's on a mission from God.

"Oh. Oh! I'm sorry!" Scrambling to his feet and out of the way, Dean backs up against the opposite shelf, clutching his book to his chest, and grimaces apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sit down and read, it just sort of happened."

[paper_due]

He smiles.
"I get it, really. I just needed--"
He begins skimming the shelves again...but it looks like The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes isn't here. He thinks at first it's been misshelved, but then he finds the gap where the heavy volume was. And realizes what Dean's holding.
"Oh."
Awkward.
To cover himself, he pulls another book at random.
"This. You can have your spot back."

[respectedboy]

Dean recognizes the look instantly. He's seen it plenty of times before.

"You wanted this, didn't you?"

He holds out the copy of Sherlock Holmes and grimaces apologetically.

"I've read it more times than I can count, I don't need to read it again."

[paper_due]

"So have I. You got it first."

He tucks the book he'd picked under his arm.

"It's good, isn't it?"

[respectedboy]

He grins.

"It is. One of my favorites. I didn't take much with me here, so I've been trying to find most of my books in the library."

Tucking Holmes under his own arm, Dean extends a hand for shaking.

"Dean Smith."

[paper_due]

"Mark Meltzer."

Handshakes, hell yeah.

"Are you new here?"

[respectedboy]

"Yeah, I moved in over the weekend. I've been getting acclimated to being in a boarding school - it's a little weird, but not unmanageable."

The manly and polite handshake is executed, and Dean readjusts his detective book.

"What year are you?"

[paper_due]

"Third year. You'll get the hang of it."

[respectedboy]

"I'm still getting the hang of my roommate," Dean grimaces, rolling his eyes.

[paper_due]

"Trouble, or just new?"

[respectedboy]

"Trouble with a capital T."

Dean shifts, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder.

"He's not exactly a model student, if you catch my drift."

[paper_due]

"I hear you. School gave me someone new this year too. He seems all right, but..." He shrugs. He's an only child. Roommates are weird.

"Do you have siblings?"

[respectedboy]

He nods, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I have a younger sister, Jo, but we have separate rooms. I like to keep tidy, and the guy they put me with makes hobos look clean."

[paper_due]

"Can you strike a deal with him? Draw a line down the middle of the room or something?"

[respectedboy]

Snort.

"He'd cross it anyway just to tick me off." Dean shrugs, "It's a miracle he still goes here - I think he's Underachiever of the Year."