Tabitha was a diligent student. Books and fantasy were all she felt she had. Even Josie was a fantasy, albeit a very real seeming one. She tried to stay away from mirrors (ironically) and people, so the library was a good place to spend her nights. People tended to be home by then, or at their dorms, or elsewhere. It was quiet here. Peaceful.
She'd been gathering up old history books and been stacking them on a front table. Even the librarian wasn;t in right now. It was almost eery how quiet things were. She couldn't help but to jump when she lost her head, and the large World War 2 book fell to the floor with a resonating thud.
- Aug 9, 2016
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Not many people were around at the moment, so Gask had the run of the place. He had been reading philosophical texts most recently, finding that his own ideas were better thought out by smarter men and women from years bygone in this world.
There was so much, so much to argue and critique and question. It was daunting, and he found that he sometimes had to peel himself away from these introspections so he could focus on his more practical education.
But geometry didn't do for his mind what reading the Hagakure or Common Sense did.
The sound of a book falling broke Gask out of his silent meditation. His mind flashed first to the thoughts that had been it him all his life. Someone had been attacked. Someone was injured. But that seemed less likely, here of all places. Setting his bookmark between the pages he was reading, Gask got up to investigate.
At the other end of the aisle of books, he saw a girl who looked like some kind of monster. But her demeanor, the way she carried herself was that of a shy young woman. Appearances can be deceiving, he reminded himself as his eyes fell briefly on her many eyes.
Approaching slowly, Gask put on a smile. It was a small one, and awkward at the edges. He was still perfecting the art of smiling with lips.
"Hello? Are you alright, miss? Do you need any help with your books?"
Words he had heard the librarians say many times before. Maybe he should get a job here.
All of Tabitha's eyes widened to a comical effect when Gask approached her, smiling somewhat awkwardly. She usually smiled like that. He was... attractive despite the scars, or maybe because of them. Tabby didn't have a good handle on such things.
The girl subconsciously covered her hand over her mouth to hide her many screwed up teeth as she spoke. "I-I didn't expect it to be so heavy!" She spoke as though he were angry. Was this a new librarian? Why else would he be here so late?
"I-I'm sorry! I can pay for any damages it might have." She released her mouth to snatched at the good, hands so shaky and nervous it kept slipping from her flimsy grip.
Her entire face had turned a brilliant blue with an embarrassed blush as the girl closed her many eyes and worked to steady her breathing, looking as if she might burst into tears.
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"You've done nothing wrong. Don't worry," he said, his tone level as he gently bent down and picked up the book where it had fallen again. Gask never took his eyes off of the girl, showing as much concern as he could by mimicking Valgarður's expressions. "I'm not a librarian anyway. I'm just a student, so don't worry. You can call me Gask."
Setting the book down, Gask took a moment to look the girl over. She wasn't the strangest looking person he had ever seen, himself included. Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, he gestured over to a table nearby. "Do you need to sit down and catch your breath?"
At first, Tabitha thought the man had gotten a good enough look at her to make him disgusted. That was when he did something entirely unexpected for Tabitha. He picked up her book up for her and held it out.
Her mind was in such a whirl she nearly didn't catch his name and totally forgot her manners. "I – Thank you! Uh, Gask. That's... I've never heard a name like that. I'm Tabitha."
Her face brightened blue when his hand found her shoulder. Part of her wanted only to pull away from him, but she was stick feeling nervous and queasy.
He was smiling at her, but Tabitha didn't trust the smiles of those who did nice deeds for her. It had never worked out for her before. Thinking, namely, of her son she lowered her eyes as if not doing so would get her reprimanded.
"I... yes. I think I would like that." She took a seat, still staring into her lap and focusing hard on her breathing.