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[not_philistine]

Artificial night fell on the City, and Goliath and Bronx both awoke with their usual roars. The gargoyles bursting out of their stone skin were a familiar sound at sunset, and their roars carried over the darkening City

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[carrieswar]

Jr. wasn't exactly sneaking around per se. He just hadn't noticed Goliath in stone sleep up on the castle ledges there. He'd seen the castle enough in the city - especially since he lived in it now. But he never acted on his impulses until tonight, when he wandered close enough to it to really make out the castle. Jr., having a huge thing for the ancient, especially Earth ancient (though he wasn't sure this thing was from Earth) wanted to get a better look at the structure itself.

He had managed to slip in and gaze around in an awe. And he had begun exploring the specific rooms and nooks and crannies of the place. But he never finished. That was because Jr. came across the library, promptly went wide-eyed, and then went to town on checking out what it had stored.

[not_philistine]

There were several books open on tables, and a stack by the chair by the unlit fireplace that suggested the library was regularly used.

Since Goliath DID regularly use the library, he made his way there soon after awaking, and paused in the doorway as he saw someone had already gotten there. Someone he hadn't invited in. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the boy, trying to recall where he knew him from.

[carrieswar]

Jr. had about three books in his arms when he heard the shuffling behind him. He turned, and looked clearly surprised when he saw Goliath standing in the door way. So much so that he almost dropped the books on his arms. But his reflexes and love of keeping such ancient things preserved as well as possible, he put snatching one of them before it fell before anything. Once he was holding them comfortably in his arms again, he addressed the gargoyle.

"Oh! Um," he knew this guy from Security. Quiet, but sort of the only one who was that large and had wings and a tail. "Goliath. That was your name, right?" He hadn't seen him wandering around ... was this his place? It almost seemed to fit...

[not_philistine]

"Yes, it is."

Ah, he remembered. This boy was part of security. A curious occupation for so young a human, but this ship was a curious home for them all.

"How did you get in here?"

[carrieswar]

"Uhhh..." He pulled the books to his chest with one arm, freeing up the other to bring up behind his neck and rub at it nervously. "Very carefully, I'll admit. I didn't know anyone actually lived here! So is this your home, then?"

[not_philistine]

"Castle Wyvern is the ancestral home of my clan. Did you come to use the library, or have you other purposes?"

Purposes like snooping, or creeping up on sleeping gargoyles for purposes of smashing? Because as much as Goliath thinks well of the general assemblage on Stacy, he is still a little paranoid about that.

"I will ask you to show me how you gained entry, but you may use the library if you wish."

[carrieswar]

"I'm pretty good at slipping into small spaces..." he trailed off, at least happy Goliath didn't sound too mad. "But I wouldn't have tried if I knew you lived here. Sorry." He let out a small, nervous laugh. "So much for good impressions!"

He looked around. "Honestly, I was just looking around because this place looks awesome from the outside. Like those really old stone castles from Lost Jerusalem. I like places and stuff that that." He looked down to the books in his arms. "The library was just a lucky find! We've got one where I live now, too. With the same kind of books! You know, paper ones."

[not_philistine]

The apology went a long way, especially since Junior had already indicated an interest in literature.

"Would Lost Jerusalem be the same city of Earth as I would have known it?"

[carrieswar]

"Oh, yeah, I mean Earth. I'm used to calling by that other name where I'm from - I keep forgetting nobody else ever knows what I mean. So you're from Earth?"

He tilted his head slightly, there certainly weren't records of beings like him that Jr. had ever heard of.

[not_philistine]

"An Earth," he amended. There were regrettably few records of his race in any records of Earth, and every reason for him to believe that there were no records to be found for some, if not most, of those earths. "And you are not?"

[carrieswar]

"Nope," he answered with a small shake of his head. Jr. placed the books down on the table nearby before he elaborated. "Far from it, actually. But that doesn't mean I'm not super invested in it and its history. And it's treasures," he added with a small pat to the pile of books. "That's why this castle caught my attention, too."

[not_philistine]

"You said 'Lost.' Was the Earth lost to you in your time, as well as in this one?"

An unfortunate timeline indeed. Goliath considered the boy again.

"You have my permission to use the library when you want, so long as I am awake and know about your visit. I do not care about the things in the castle, but some of the books need careful handling. I will ask you not to disturb the things belonging to the two humans who live here."

Regarding history and books as treasures spoke positive volumes to Goliath.

[carrieswar]

He nodded. "Yeah. But better lost than gone, I think. I'm sure we'll find it again, someday." Someday being when they can all put aside their stupid problems and actually work together.

Jr. smile widened. "Really? Thanks! -- and, I'll be careful with the books, definitely. The really antique ones are really fragile where I'm from ... and books are much better in their original forms than all the optical data and stuff we've got. What's your sleeping schedule like?" He paused, recalling that he didn't really see Goliath on Security duty during the 'day' hours. "I mean, judging by Security you seem like more of the night owl..."