No More Slacking Off [Open]

[sutoraiku]

WHO: Lavi and Bookman, others may join
WHAT: Bookman is coming to get the lazy apprentice and beat some sense into him
WHERE: Midnight Sun Tavern
WHEN: Day 64, after Lavi's first journal entry

Comments

[pandantiquarian]

Probably been cavorting about and slacking on his duties, Bookman grumbled as he walked. Although, that wasn't terribly like Lavi either... to ignore the other exorcists that Bookman was well aware he'd become close to - and that was the main reason Lavi still had yet to inherit Bookman status, after all; his priorities weren't straight yet.

Naturally Bookman himself had written in the journals as well, but it was information that was already public and an attempt on his part to discover more... which had failed miserably, but perhaps that was just it. His charisma was leaving him in his old age - charisma with the young, active people that stumbled upon important information, rather than people like the Supervisor who were already well acquainted with his knowledge and respected him for it.

A fist raised and a punch thrown, that was how Bookman greeted his wayward apprentice, still not completely convinced Lavi had 'just shown up'.

"BLABBERMOUTH!" He bellowed angrily, "Why after realizing that the book was somehow enchanted did you not tear out the page?"

[sutoraiku]

"Ah!" Lavi was taken completely off guard as the side of his face erupted with pain, and he swore he saw stars. He was on his feet immediately, hand against his cheek and yelling himself.

"Why do you keep hitting me?" he whined. "I didn't do anything this time! I scratched out the page!"

Truth be told, he hadn't wanted to rip the page out in case that meant Miss Claire couldn't communicate with him anymore.

[cerberus_cortex]

For a moment, Heine's eyes widened in surprise and his hands made the slightest reflexive movement towards the two guns he wore holstered at his back. It wasn't like him to be taken by surprise by an newcomer, especially not one who apparently intended a fight.

But he realized almost instantly that this was no real threat.

What he hadn't told Lavi about Badou was actually the reason why it didn't much unsettle him to find that hitting was apparently a customary mode of interaction between him and whoever this bald-headed old guy was. ('Course with Heine and Badou it was most often the latter getting stepped on or trampled when Heine decided that the person he wanted to be fighting was on the other side of him.)

Anyway, point was that Heine didn't see any reason to get all indignant. It was maybe a little rude to bust into the middle of a conversation and start hitting a guy, but he sure as hell wasn't the etiquette police.

Not bothering to take so much as a step away from the pair, he blinked at them expectantly, waiting for the outburst to subside. Or...do whatever else it was going to do.

[pandantiquarian]

"I have been looking for you for over a month, you worthless apprentice!" The old Exorcist hollered in Lavi's ear. "And you are simply chasing beautiful girls like it's more important than your own duty! Have you forgotten what it means to be a Bookman during your pleasure cruise?"

He eyed Heine warily. "I have not seen you about and you are obviously not an Exorcist. Who are you and how are you called?"

[cerberus_cortex]

Heine watched the display impassively and then looked down into Bookman's old wrinkled face when he turned to him. "Bunch of you around though," he said as though it didn't matter to him much either way, which in fact it didn't.

"Heine Rammsteiner." Well that would do for what he was called. As far as who he was, Heine considered a moment then gave a little shrug, "stray dog."

[sutoraiku]

Lavi was now deaf in that ear. Okay, not really, but he winced all the same. Balling his hands into fists, he was ready to defend himself, but saw his master's attention directed to Heine.

He sighed, scratching the side of his head. "I still don't know why everyone says I've been here before. I swear I just got off the boat."

He eyed Heine carefully. "So you've met the others before?"

[pandantiquarian]

"You may call me Bookman," the old man told Heine, "for I have no other name to be called. That is my apprentice." He indicated Lavi. " 'Stray dog' is an interesting title to give oneself, Mr. Heine. Have you no allies in a place like this? And have you met other Exorcists as my apprentice believes?" It was one way to pique the historian's curiosity.

[cerberus_cortex]

Yeah, stray dog was a strange thing to call oneself, but Heine didn't really want to explain the particulars of it to this old man and this guy with the eye patch he'd just met. Not yet, at least. Did he have allies here? Well he at least had fewer enemies. "A couple," he said cryptically.

"And just one," as far as Exorcists went, he figured it was safe enough to mention other members of the same organization. "Guy named Daisya."

As for Lavi's confusion--"It's the same as people told me when I got here. One even claimed that he'd killed me. But then I don't die so easy. I do usually remember when it happens though."

[sutoraiku]

"Daisya..." Lavi knew he'd already been told the other Exorcist was here, but it was still hard to believe that he was alive and well and meeting new people.

He shrugged. "No one said that they'd killed me or whatever... at least, I don't think so. Apparently, I just disappeared." Now he shook his head in disbelief. "Like I'd just take off for no reason."

[pandantiquarian]

"Lavi." Bookman looked right at his apprentice. "You should speak with Daisya. I have not yet had the opportunity. He was supposed to find me near the docks but apparently has had a great deal of other business to attend to. This... 'people coming back from the dead' business has become a recurrent theme of Rivelata."

He returned his gaze to Heine. "Our exorcists are a hearty lot as well. It would be a good test for Lavi to detail out the situation surrounding this apparent 'death' of yours, Mr. Heine, not to mention his own disappearance and apparent amnesia. It could perhaps provide you some answers of your own, if the situation is still unclear to you. Bookmen are astute at uncovering information that is thought to have crumbled to dust."

For as small as the man was, he had an awful lot to say. He kept his arms tucked in his sleeves and scarcely moved about - perhaps he was all too used to sitting still for long periods of time.

[cerberus_cortex]

Heine glanced from Bookman to Lavi with a slightly raised eyebrow that said several things at once, among them You're apprenticed to become like him?

But he was curious about his supposed death here and any information about what had happened to him before would certainly be welcome. He didn't mind the thought of having some help in trying to find answers either--so far, he didn't even have much of a starting point.

"Sure," he said to Lavi, keeping his voice carefully neutral, "I could use someone to work with. If you want."