Knowledge is power. Literally. (King)

@"King"

Basil was in heaven. When he was a kid, he'd been told things like him couldn't get to a place like that, and there wasn't a single thing he could do about it. Now he was certain they'd been incorrect, because this paradise of towering bookshelves couldn't be described as anything else.

As usual, he'd made sure to come to visit and explore the new area at night- both simply because he was more energetic at the later, darker hour, and because he wouldn't be able to make as many people uncomfortable with his presence. A win win situation. There were still a few lingering people, just like him, but at least it wasn't that bad. And hell, it meant he got space. If someone was blocking a book he wanted to get to, all he had to do was walk over and leer at them. Problem solved!

Basil's aura of the unnatural and corrupted seemed to enjoy flowing into the spacious library just as much as he did. He ignored the thoughts of burdening others from then on, and simply embraced the childlike wonder he felt. That special book smell, and sense of intrigue, were both so strong he could taste it.

Even if this was a particularly extraordinary specimen, Basil had been to a lot of libraries. And every time he visited one, he felt the same feeling. It never, never got old, and he didn't think it ever would.

Basil quite literally skipped and pranced through the lines of books, occasionally pulling something out at near random and rapidly flipping through it, most often scaring other visitors off and getting odd looks. But he wasn't being loud, feet as light as a feather unlike his heavy energy in the air, so it was probably all fine. It was hard to sort through all the different, conflicting sources of possible fascinations. He wanted to hoard everything.

At some point, though, he found something that particularly drew his attention. Both a person and what book he had with him, once Basil caught a glimpse of the cover. He crept up behind the other boy, peering over his shoulder. Basil hadn't made a sound, but he was sure his aura announced him well enough not to be too much of a surprise.

"You know. I haven't read any Lovecraft yet, but I've been painfully curious about fixing that ever since I had an inkling of what I was. I wonder if it lives up to its popularity, and how accurate it is. What do you think?" Basil said conversationally and casually, arms loosely clasped behind his back.

@"King"

"I'll trust your judgement, then! You look trustworthy enough on such things. Heh. Horror and fantasy sounds good, and true to life, as well."

Basil pulled up a seat at the table, still with that spring in his step, and perhaps just a bit oblivious (or purposefully uncaring) in regards personal space. He wasted no time in starting to babble excitedly again, chin settled lazily in one palm. He looked as though he meant to stay for a while, rather than just steal the book and run.

"Oh no, nonono, I'm fine with waiting. Got all the time in the world, friend." He offered a sharklike grin. "Besides, you were doing something rather interesting over here, weren't you? Don't stop on my behalf. Should I be quiet? I'll be as quiet as a ghost, if it means I can watch." His eyes glittered, half greedy, half puppy dog look. It was almost amusing how he could be both very shady, and equally filled with childish anticipation. If one ignored the overly bold manner he had, the intent attention he gave could be pleasing.

@"King"

Basil had made himself even more comfortable, arms crossed on the tabletop, head nestled on the soft sleeves of his usual sweater there. He was just as quiet as he'd promised, although his usually heavy eyes were big, and showing some color other than pitch black. His lips were only slightly parted, but when he noticed he was being watched, he quickly returned the eye contact and beamed. "IsthatrealandcanItouchit?" he garbled out, all at once and in a single breath, inching closer.

Basil screeched inwardly at what he'd just witnessed, if it really was real- oh, the things one could do with a power like that. And the pure nerdy fantasies one could fulfill. Oh, things would practically never be boring!

@"King"

Basil was disappointed when he had to see the knife returned- missing both the pleasure at finding it was solid, and the slight drunk giddiness holding any sharp object tended to give him. But it faded without much fuss when he realized that the other was going to pry something else out of the book. Then, he was straight back to grinning and forgetting to blink. He was sitting up surprisingly straight now, perhaps at the idea that maybe he'd get something else to be grabby with.

He peered at the person he sat with again, looking him over a bit more thoroughly than he'd been able to at first. He seemed a decent amount taller than Basil, but not too much older. The fact that he had a tiny bit of freckles irrationally endeared him to Basil, who had mentally decided, at some point in his life, that freckle friends were the superior friends one could make. Basil subtly nodded his approval, and spoke up. "I'm Basil. I like this thing that you're doing with the books, and your freckles," he said, in as friendly of a voice he could attempt. "I like you. We should be pals, pal."

Basil wasn't quite sure if outright requesting ones friendship was socially acceptable when you weren't five, but it was what he had to go off.