Book Haven - Friday, 9/4

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

There are some things that are just WRONG.

Some that are just... evil. They're beyond wrong and into the blackest pits of what is against life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

...Liir considered syrup rain to be one of those things, if only because he'd had to fly to the store in a garbag bag and he was going to have to soak the brush at the end in water just to get all the sticky sweetness out.

Nonetheless, the shop was open. [if OCDless]

Comments

[trigons_child]

Syrup wasn't much of a problem when you could cheat.

Raven had noticed the sticky mess when she began to step outside. She didn't want to get gooey, so she teleported herself to town instead, appearing in the Book Haven in a cloud of black smoke that dissipated almost instantly.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Excuse him if he ducked behind the counter with a squeak (no, no matter what nonsense he tried to give, it was a squeak).

[trigons_child]

"It is only me, Liir," Raven called quickly. "I am sorry that I startled you."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He peered over the counter.

"Oh. Um. Hello, Raven. That's... new."

[trigons_child]

"I sometimes forget that I have not demonstrated all my gifts," Raven said. "I truly did not mean to alarm you. I only wished to avoid the syrup rain."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

His expression turned stormy as he looked at the door.

"I don't suppose you could come back at the end of the day and give me a 'ride' back to the school, could you?"

[trigons_child]

"Of course," Raven said. "I am able to bring others with me when I travel that way. I would be pleased to offer you a way home to avoid the rain."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

A look of relief washed over him, almost like normal rain.

"Thank you. The trip here was unfortunate."

Then he glanced around the shop.

"Is there anything I can help you with? I haven't forgotten about my promise, by the way. I'm just trying to figure out how to do something about it."

[trigons_child]

Raven moved up to the counter and placed the book she was carrying down upon it. "I wished to return this to you," she said. And yes, she was blushing.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked at the book for a moment before nodding.

"Okay."

Didn't seem bothered in the least.

[trigons_child]

"I...thank you for the offer of it," Raven said, "but Joan and I could not get past the first chapter." OK, she'd peeked a bit ahead a couple times, then usually slammed the book shut in shock.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Hmm," he said as he tucked the book beneath the counter. He didn't seem troubled by that either.

"Did it at least accomplish the task of making you feel a little less odd about some things?"

[trigons_child]

"...I think it made me more confused," Raven admitted.

[trigons_child]

"...I think it made me more confused," Raven admitted.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked up.

"How so?"

[trigons_child]

"I have absolutely no wish to wear rubber or be tied up and put on display for others!" Raven insisted.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

"I didn't think you did."

...Liir didn't always make the most straightforward sort of sense.

[trigons_child]

"But that is what the book is about!" Raven said.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He raised an eyebrow at the exclamation point upset.

"I figured it would show you that no matter how odd or different you felt, there are people with stranger desires. Enough to get a book published. If you read it, that was another matter, but mostly it was to remind you of that."

[trigons_child]

"Then...you were successful," Raven said. "There are very strange people in the world, and this book proves it."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"...I've looked at some of the order catalogs. There are actually odder."

She didn't want to know.

[trigons_child]

"Do you make it a habit of seeking out those who are...different?" Raven asked.

No, no she didn't. She was already scarred for life.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"To be honest," he said, looking up, "I don't usually seek out anyone. At least, not often. I'm not... particularly good with people."

[trigons_child]

"That is something we have in common," Raven murmured.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Something I noticed from the start, though you seem to have found friends from what I've heard on the radio. I mostly managed to gain them in spite of myself."

He didn't look at her.

"And a number of them are gone."

[trigons_child]

"I do not listen to the radio," Raven said. "It confuses me, and one of the broadcasters makes fun of me." She studied Liir for a moment. "Gone? You mean they have left the island? Graduated?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"A little of all three," he said as he thought of them. He still had the memories, after all.

"Which one makes fun of you? If it's Katina, she does that to everyone."

[trigons_child]

"Yes, her," Raven said. "She says I have a door fetish." Her cheeks went pink again.

"You miss them, those that have gone," she went on. She could feel it, so it wasn't a question, but a statement.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I do. I miss a lot of people. They tend to disappear."

The smile wasn't sad but it wasn't happy. It just... acknowledged the truths that he knew, the truths that he believed.

Everyone leaves.

Everything dies.

[trigons_child]

"But there are those here that you care for, to help fill the void left by the others, are there not?" Raven said. "Not replacing, but does it help ease their loss?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I haven't lost anything," he said softly as he slipped out from behind the counter, "as they're still with me. The part they shared with me."

[trigons_child]

Raven gave him a soft smile. "As they should be," she said.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Liir nodded.

"Would you like some tea or some of the cookies from the table before you headed out? or was there something else other than the book?"

[trigons_child]

"Tea would be lovely," Raven said. "And what time should I return to bring you home?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Handwavey should be good. Just in time for the club fair, I think."

He moved to put together some tea for her and a little plate with cookies.