Book Haven - Friday, 6/25

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Liir felt strange today, hollow and empty. It didn't hurt, there wasn't any pain, but there was something missing, something so big he could hardly see it.

He did his work, cleaned and straightened, set out the tea and everything else but he couldn't seem to feel anything. Nothing seemed real.

The Book Haven was open.

[and OCDless]

Comments

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Leda didn't read all that much, but she was in a strange mood today and for some reason it drew her to the bookstore.

She stood in the doorway, torn between the urge to browse, and the urge to flee.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

When he saw someone waiting in the doorway, he managed a smile and stuffed everything away to do his Job.

"Good afternoon, miss. Can I help you with anything?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Hey Liir. Uh, I'm not really looking for anything specific. Just...felt like stopping by. How's it going?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

That was a rather loaded question, but Liir ignored it. His eyes could have been seaglass for all they held in them.

"I'm well enough," he said quietly, "and yourself."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay." Not exactly true, but she wasn't much more likely to share than he. "Have you worked here long?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"It was my first job. I've had it... goodness, a year and a half now. This is your first time here on a Friday, I'm assuming."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"First time ever." she admitted. For some reason this place was making her nervous.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked around the room, wondering--

"Want some tea?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"I'd love some, thanks." Leda said, managing a smile. "What kind is it?"

[intraspective]

Ino wasn't always the best of siblings--even she knew that--but really, the radio had made it well.

Yeah.

Which would be why Ino drifted in around lunchtime and wandered over to give him a hug even though she wasn't really in a good mood either.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked down at Ino and squeezed her tight.

"Thanks."

He was going to be quiet for a few days. Words hurt right now.

[intraspective]

"I'll stay a while," she said, leaning against him.

She'd tell him about Ichigo later, perhaps. He was clearly hurt worse than she was.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said, glad to have her there.

"Stupid to ask how you've been, huh?"

[intraspective]

"Not stupid," she said, "but nothing important has been going on."

Lying to Liir was easy in some ways.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He'd been avoiding the radio lately. It hadn't been any good news for him, after all; selfish, yes. He had his moments.

"Okay," he said, not really in anything like the right place to question. Ino usually had something to say when he asked, whether it was about talking to her plants or her medical training. Nothing was a bit odd.

"Yesterday was on the radio, huh?"

[intraspective]

"Yeah," she said, with a shrug, "so I thought I'd come by. I listen 'cause Katina does radio then."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"You're good friends with Katina?"

He hadn't known.

"Not really surprising. She's..." he didn't want to lie "I like her."

[intraspective]

Ino had to squint at him for that. "What's not surprising about it?"

A beat.

"And, yeah. I see her every week." And Katina made room for her to sit. It was a friendship.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. You're both... blunt."

The way he said it was actually a compliment. Either they'd have hated each other or they'd get along.

[intraspective]

"That's a nice way of putting it," she said, not really put out by it.

Even if she did wrinkle up her nose at him.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He grinned just a little, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"I've learned what a virtue that can be. Very often from the both of you."

[intraspective]

"Huh," she said, sounding thoughtful. Huuuh.

Ino shrugged. "And yet you don't point out what a pain it can be."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't figure I had to." A small smile.

"You'd know better than I would, after all."

[intraspective]

She sniffed. "You're stunned by our awesome, I understand."

Nonsense, of course, but sometimes that was needed.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Frequently," he told her, honestly. But he was smirking just a little.