(Untitled)

[poison_pearl]

I have been idle, these past few months, perhaps lulled into complacency by the constant repetition of days; I was ever a creature of routine, having nothing else, marking off the passage of an hour by the task I perform, as if I were but an ornament in a clock, run by gears and pendulums, lacking any sort of motive force of my own. Indeed, I had

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[antiwhorish]

Angela was curious about what types of books a person might offer in the marketplace, when they could be had from the bookshelf at any time.

She picked one up to browse through it, but only made it a few paragraphs before she gasped and snapped it shut, scandalized.

"This is smut," she hissed at the girl. Perhaps she was unaware of what she was selling, as Angela did not think she looked like a purveyor of pornography.

[poison_pearl]

My word, an honest-to-god-and my impression, formed in seconds, is that god is who she supposes to answer to-reaction of outrage and shock; I've grown so used to denizons as blasé as any of my uncle's colleagues that for a moment I can but regard her as if she were a rare creature. A unicorn, perhaps, would be an apt analogy.

"Certainly," I say, holding in the sudden, perverse urge to laugh, "that is one word for it. Would you like some?"

[antiwhorish]

"No, I would not."

Angela had become more or less used to living her life surrounded by all kinds of questionable behavior. It didn't mean she had to like it, or overlook it when it showed up in places she was expecting it less than usual.

"You can't just have things like this out here where anyone can see them! There are children, and possibly decent people, around."

[poison_pearl]

I raise my eyebrows, still somewhat amused. Proud, too, as once upon a time, such as when I first arrived here, I believe I would have quailed, been embarrassed. I would have believed this woman the first in a wave that would overwhelm and drown me in a sea of disapproval.

Today, I think of her rather as a puddle.

"You will not become degraded simply by looking at the cover of a book," I say, and then glance to my side and amend, "at least, none of the ones I have left within easy reach. If you're worried about becoming contaminated, perhaps you had best take a step back?" I speak with great care for her wellbeing. "You might catch licentiousness."

[octavia_minor]

There were few people on the island, if any, whose company Octavia preferred more than Maud's, especially as of late, in the days since Isabel's disappearance. Losing another person made her only want to hold on more tightly to those she had with her, as much as she didn't want to make outwardly clear how shaken she was. The worry would subside, eventually. At least, she hoped it would.

It was one of the rare occasions that she was out walking, rather than riding in her litter, and at the sight of Maud in a booth, she walked over, lips curled in a grin. "And what do we have today?" she asked lightly as she approached, obviously teasing. "Anything of interest?"

[poison_pearl]

"Oh, yes, we have some quite uncommon items up for sale, today," I say, lips quirking with playful amusement; I do not know whether or not she referred to my trade or my day, but for my purposes here it does not matter overmuch. "You'd have to offer me something quite compelling to make it worth my while, I'm afraid."

[octavia_minor]

"Is that so?" Octavia asked, arching one eyebrow curiously, grin unwavering. She was unsure now exactly which she'd meant herself, but that was hardly the point. It wasn't as if she actually would have been bartering for Maud's books. "Well, I suppose that could be arranged. Just what sort of thing did you have in mind?"

[poison_pearl]

"Oh, I don't know," I say carelessly, "I'm not sure what you have to offer. Inspiration, perhaps? I am filling my idle time with the pursuit of writing, and a writer needs inspiration. A muse, as it were.-That's even from your time, isn't it? I only just remembered that as I said it. The concept has changed somewhat, I think."

[1000_cranes]

Sometimes, Charlie just went for a wander in the marketplace. Sometimes, she bought a basket of little origami fancies and fresh paper to fold to request, but, mostly, she just came to see what other people were doing. When she saw a familiar face she paused, watching Maud but unwilling to interrupt her in her work. The gloves were set aside. It was always nice to see Maud's actual hands. Her fingers.

"Well, hello, Miss Maud," said Charlie, finally, shading her eyes with her hands. "Busy?"

[poison_pearl]

I had been somewhat engaged in my work-hobby, perhaps, would be a better term, since my work today is trade-and, having had very few inquiries so far had been heedless of the fact I am being watched.

"Oh!" I say, in mild surprise, first blinking at Charlie until my eyes refocus from squinting at the paper, then considering, then offering a tentative smile, "oh, no, not in the slightest degree. Apparently there is not a great deal of demand. Hello, Charlie; I ought to have started with that, shouldn't I? I'm still no good at this."

[1000_cranes]

"Well, I know you know who I am, so I guess it's okay to start with the other first, right?"

She grinned and touched the cover of one of the books on Maud's table.

"These from your library?"

[poison_pearl]

"The remnants of such," I say, glancing carelessly at the one she has touched.-Remarkable, how much progress one can make, when once I would have lived in fear of such a moment, worried that so simple a touch could leave her poisoned, as I was.

"Apparently as much as I thought I loathed the entire contents of said, I cannot bring myself to destroy all of them," I say, "so I thought I might try to trade them for something more to my liking. I cannot decide if it counts as a public service, or not."

[ninja_spatula]

"Hey there person!" Deadpool exclaimed, suddenly rounding a corner. "You look funny. Been here long? I bet it's reaaaaal boring just sitting here, with nothing to do but read! Heck, even I might get bored, assuming there wasn't any customers. Hey, you know, if it's cool with you, I'll keep you company a while." Myself sat down on the nearest thing without waiting for a response. He chose randomly, but was inclined toward the table. If there was any chairs around, he took it, but if not, he just jumped on the table. There was... Probably room.

[poison_pearl]

I have been witness to many a peculiarity in my time on this island, but a crazed man in a mask clambering upon my desk is its own unique variety of bizarre, one that cannot be blamed upon mysterious forces other than those contained in the human mind. If indeed a mind he has; for now, I reserve judgment.

"What the blazes do you think you are doing? While hardly boring, I'd hardly call your behaving like some kind of-monkey, an acceptable alternative."

[so_near_an_end]

"Oh, hullo," Cecilia greeted, coming upon a woman she did not recognize. Nonetheless, Cecilia gave her a pleasant smile, noting the stack of books sitting on the woman's counter.

Placing a hand on her rounded stomach, Cecilia inclined her head, curious as to what sort of books the woman was offering for trade. Lips quirking playfully, she said, "I do hope you are a touch less playful than the bookshelf."

[poison_pearl]

Oh, dear, a mother-to-be. Mothers make me nervous, perhaps because I always so hated my own. Still, the common practice here is to assume the best, though I so frequently find it difficult.

"A touch less capricious, I certainly strive to be," I say, glancing at my stacks of my books. "In that my catalogue is far more constant, if not suited to everyone's tastes. These are... a very particular variety of books."

[so_near_an_end]

"Constancy is not quite as overrated as some may think," Cecilia decided, still smiling. For all that it was cool, she found the weather to her liking. Standing outdoors in the open air market was an absolutely delight, as Cecilia had been feeling rather cooped up in her hut as of late.

"My husband and I are somewhat voracious readers," she confessed, a touch embarrassed. Why, some days it was hard to get about inside their home because they had stacks of books piled on the floor here and there. "I might be interested in some of your books."

[poison_pearl]

"An admirable quality," I say, regarding her for a moment before I reach to my side and draw a milder volume from the stack. I find myself unable to assess how she might react, as varied as the population of this island proves to be. She may well be somewhat like me, although the mention of a husband-and the evidence of her belly-certainly limits the degree to which that may be so. "Here," I say, thumbing expertly to a section that makes it quite clear, in its description of action, what this book is about, "this is the genre in which I deal."