[Fourth Proclamation] Review List of Prohibited Books.

[bloodreign]

[Anyone working the graveyard shift or otherwise skulking about may notice a brief flicker passing across the library windows. That's because this sanctum of knowledge has a late-night visitor who has taken great pains to choose an hour when the vicinity should have been vacated.]

[Inside, Asch tucks his lantern into a recess in the wall to partially contain the puddle of light now draping across multiple shelves and sets to work. He's never been allowed an opportunity to thoroughly research this particular subject before - certainly, it's not something Asch would read in the company of others. But now that he's been afforded some privacy, he sees absolutely no reason to continue putting it off. It's not as if he's ashamed or anything.]

[When he finally locates the section in question, Asch pulls down the first hopeful-looking title he comes across and flips it open. In fact, within a few minutes he has browsed several volumes and moved on to reviewing a list of what appear to be symptoms:]

Food Aversion

Dizziness & Fainting

Nausea

Mood Swings

Headaches & Back Pain

Constipation

Missed Menstrual Period

[...And so on. The rest of which clearly do not apply to him.]

[One may also find him asleep at a study table bright and early the next morning. It's clear he dozed off while reading, as a two-page spread currently serves as an unintentional head pillow.]

Comments

[last_puppeteer]

[What was that bit about her respecting his privacy? He should know a king has none, thus when he least expects it of course she'd be there.

He has a lot of secrets and quite frankly, she's always been a nosy person, it's just in her nature. She knew where he'd go, especially at a rather unkind hour, she just had to play a bit of a waiting game before coming behind him.

Sneaking into the library was a breeze, she had kept to the darkest shadows, carefully making her way around to him. But she didn't have to creep for long, apparently he was fast asleep. After a moment she came out with a soft frown, curiously peeking at what he had been reading.

And my what a surprise she had come upon...A pretty weird one in fact. Anise frown grew as she read a few words on some of the pages he was sleeping on.

Expecting a baby perhaps? ...This was odd research considering how his queen wasn't even with him.]

[bloodreign]

[Indeed, Asch should have known better. Among a million and one other concerns, however, he'd thought she might just go along with it. Sadly, if he'd known Anise a little better, he could have corrected his mistake before giving himself away.]

[There's not a great deal else to be seen. A few other books on the shelves look as if they've been shifted recently, but they are simply more of the same. What to do, how to prepare, and advice on parenting.]

[For Asch's part, his breathing is regular and considering he hasn't moved or lifted an eyelid, seems very much oblivious to the fact he has company.]

[last_puppeteer]

[After a moment, she couldn't help a soft smile. Imagining him and Natalia with a child...well...it was rather cute. She couldn't help but wish that is queen was here with him, and not for selfish reasons of more company either.

Anise reached over to the lamp, turning the flame down so there was just enough light to see for if and when the man woke up.

She took one more look at his sleeping face before grinning to herself, it's too bad she didn't have a camera, otherwise she's have the perfect black mail. Shrugging her shoulders she quietly made her way to the exit, she didn't mind letting the man rest hopefully peacefully in the library.]

((ooc: alt action would be her slamming down the largest book before running out of the library laughing.))

[bloodreign]

((OOC: Wow rude.))

...Leaving so soon?

[If Anise hasn't made her way fully out the exit by now, she should be able to pick up Asch's voice easily. There's a bit of an echo, confusing the direction of the sound, but there's also a slow movement in the dim light off to the left and a few yards in front of the desk.]

[In fact, it was her reaching over to adjust the lamp that woke him up in the first place.]

[Asch can't tell who it is in the darkness. That he doesn't have a knife to his throat suggests that whoever's visiting the library most likely doesn't mean to kill him, but there are other people to consider here. He was stupid to fall asleep, he knows that. But this is sensitive information, and if someone's been snooping around while he was unconscious, finding out secrets, then he'd better figure out who and how to keep them quiet.]

[It's just too bad that being half-asleep has put him at a disadvantage. Maybe he should be taking the suggestion of a permanent bodyguard more seriously...]

[last_puppeteer]

((ooc: ...You know it'd be funny...))

[Freezing in the doorway, the puppeteer turned around with a brow raised.]

Well if you want company all you have to do is ask.

[Her tone was light and playful, but she was just feeling the situation right now. She wasn't stupid enough to drop her guard completely, but she would attempt to seem as harmless as possible. Perhaps she wouldn't get into any trouble with him?]

You just seemed busy is all~♪

[bloodreign]

((OOC: 'Twould be a sight.))

....

[Anise, huh? The facial expression is lost on him, given the lighting, but he can tell she's being silly. As usual. He stands where he is, allowing himself to breathe, perhaps, but not letting himself relax.]

["Busy". She saw him asleep, but he still can't be sure how much else. Asch contemplates a course of action. There are threats (useless for the most part), there are bribes (slightly better), there is changing the subject or pretending he knows nothing or just happened to fall asleep on a book of that particular nature.]

Step away from the door.

Switching accounts because MOAR ICONS~!

[lady_of_daath]

[Dread slowly drained through her as he commanded her away from the door. It was all about the act of confidence now, not that she didn't know how to handle a surprise attack.

Shrugging her shoulders, gently tugging the heavy door closed behind her before taking a few steps forward.]

And what would you have me down now?

[bloodreign]

[Instead, Asch doesn't resort to any of those tactics. He waits until he hears the door shut fully, then rests one hand against the nearest bookshelf. Rather than attacking or issuing another command, he delivers a question in what must be his natural voice. For once, it doesn't sound like he's angry or trying to intimidate anyone or put on airs.]

What did you see?

[lady_of_daath]

[Well...That wasn't so bad of a question. But she knew she wasn't out of hot water so soon, even if he was talking...well like normal to her. Out of everything, that was the most unnatural part of this.]

Only you sleeping on some books. You must have been reading something pretty boring to do that, hm?

[Slowly Anise started walking again, heading towards the faint light that she had left on for him.]

[bloodreign]

[Not by a long shot. Asch follows her with his eyes. He's not too far away, but he's beginning to see that if she keeps advancing, it's going to look suspicious if he suddenly leaps over there to yank the books off the desk so she can't see them. He shifts slightly.]

...That's one possibility. But what are you even doing here? The library's closed.

[lady_of_daath]

[Of course she's going to keep going, all the way until she makes it back to the table he was sleeping on. She's not going too fast, just idly walking over so there is time to intersect if need be.]

If the library is closed then why are the doors unlocked~? I was coming her to do a little bit of late night research, the inspiration bite me when I least expected it.

[bloodreign]

[...She doesn't leave him much choice. Asch steps away from the shelf, emerging into the pool of dim light. Perhaps he can distract her long enough to rest a hand over the title and slide the book away...]

Maybe because I was already borrowing the place. A little "late night research" as you call it.

[mysterical]

[After being stuck in this strange town for a few days, Tear has started to look around to fully become accustomed to how things worked. It was strange to think that she was no longer on Auldrant, that she wouldn't wake up the next day and Luke would be at her side, off to fight another battle to save the world.

She carefully wandered through the library, calmed by the silence and the smell of old books. It was while she was walking down one particular row of books that she saw the dark-red hair that signified the grumpy former God-General.]

Asch?

[bloodreign]

[The sound of his name stirs Asch from drowsing. He's occupied this same chair all night, lending to stiff muscles and poor posture. And no doubt a wrinkled jacket. Whenever he gets home the maids'll throw a fit. It's not the sort of scene a person would expect from someone who is so often perfectly distant and on guard.]

[He straightens up slowly and turns his head in Tear's direction, just enough to regard her with one eye. He doesn't dare stretch or stifle a yawn. After all, some of the people here are 'dangerous'...or so they say.]

...What is it?

[mysterical]

[She's unused to the rumpled appearance of the redhead, but the disdain and bad attitude is something she can deal with.]

Well, I was curious as to how you were doing and why you were sleeping in the library.

[bloodreign]

[So he'd fallen asleep while reading... Damn it.]

...I'm fine.

[It's a curt reply. Asch closes the makeshift pillow (a.k.a. book) with a thump, taking care to slide the cover under another volume left sitting on the desk so no one can see.]

It's easier to do research at night. Quieter.

What about you? Why are you here?

[mysterical]

[Yep, same old Asch, regardless of where he was. Not that they'd ever really disagreed, except where Luke was concerned.]

I'm trying to learn more about this town. I've been here a few days and I still don't know much about it.

What are you researching? [She's trying to see what book you're trying to hide, Asch. Covertly though.]

[bloodreign]

[So she's only been here for a short while. That'd explain why he hadn't bumped into her before. She doesn't seem hostile... Asch guesses she's probably from sometime before Van's defeat, otherwise she'd be reacting much differently.]

You won't find much - unless someone's hidden it all. No one I've talked to seems to know what makes this place tick.

[Yes, he said "talked to". Asch shifts slightly, trying to come up with a reasonable alternative.]

...Herbal medicine.

[Mentally he groaned. Surely he could come up with something better than that! If Tear does manage to catch a glimpse of the title, it's something like "Parenting and You: A Guide for First Time Fathers".]

[mysterical]

[Nope, she's new and she doesn't know a thing about what really happens during the trip on Eldrant. She was going to go there before she was kidnapped to this strange world.]

Well, I don't know anything, really. The only thing I've found out is that it can take people from Auldrant at any point of time, even multiple realities, and throws them here. I think that Noir called it a tossed salad effect?

[Asch is perfectly able to speak to others, so long as Luke isn't involved. Tear has managed to have conversations with him. Albeit reluctantly.]

Herbal medicines? That appears to be a parenting book. Are you and Natalia expecting?

1/2

[bloodreign]

["Tossed salad effect"? It sounds like some improvised theory created spur-of-the-moment... But he supposes it's accurate enough.]

That would seem to be the case. Everyone here claims to have a different "situation".

[None of them so far have acted as if they're at all familiar with his either.]

And you'll find leaving difficult. [Or impossible. Maybe not as impossible as the brief moment of shock that floods his face.]

2/2

[bloodreign]

[Asch stares at her for a moment, then breaks eye contact, his hand sliding absently over the book's binding.]

[There isn't any use in denying it if she's figured it out so easily.]

...I would prefer that information to be kept in confidence.

[mysterical]

[She watches him very carefully. He's as bad as Luke at keeping things off of his face. Or maybe it's because she can read Luke and could nearly always read Van that she's able to read Asch so well...]

I'm still unsure how I got here, but I've tried everything I can think of to go home. I have no plans to stop looking for a way to return to Auldrant, but I won't let that consume me.

[And, you know, Tear's pretty smart. You and Natalia are so obviously still into each other. It's a reasonable assumption.]

Of course. I wouldn't go around telling anyone your personal business.

[bloodreign]

[Asch is a little out of practice. He wasn't expecting her to guess correctly on the first try either. Nevertheless, he'll have to grant her the benefit of a doubt. Threats wouldn't aid him in this case.]

[He glances back in Tear's direction, fixing her with a look.] ...Good.

There's a group of people here working on a solution. You might speak with them about returning home. [He crosses his arms.] As I understand it, they're looking for able fonists.

[mysterical]

[Asch has never intimidated Tear, so his look is swiftly ignored. She'd keep the information quiet out of deference to her friend.] Is she doing well? I would like to see her, if you think it wouldn't be too much for her.

[She gives him a tiny smile.] It's nice to hear that you think I'm an able fonist, Asch. Who are the people of this group?

[bloodreign]

[Either way, the melodist's sensible approach, rather than garnering ire, has an almost settling effect. Asch has kept the whole situation under lock and key for months. He hasn't even gotten to talk to anyone about it at length, save Natalia. That Tear isn't the type of person to tease or make a huge production out of it helps tremendously.]

She's been fine. I have no doubt she'd be delighted to entertain guests, however Natalia isn't here.

[He glances towards a window, his expression unreadable.] Or maybe I should say that my wife isn't.

[He turns his attention back to Tear, apparently untouched by the smile, although he does incline his head by some small degree in what might be a nod.] As for the group, all people you know in one form or another. Jade, Guy...I suspect Luke will be butting in once he catches on.