Knowledge is power. Literally. (King)

@"King"

Basil simply raised an eyebrow and smirked for a moment, holding his hands up slightly. "You seem a bit distracted, I just said my name. But that's probably my bad. Can't really help it. Perhaps knowing what I am would be a bit more helpful in this area, no? Let's start over," he slowed his words considerably as he spoke, trying to make his presence gentler and easier to comprehend. "I mean. I'd really better start getting used to explaining it. Heh..." He ran a hand lightly through his hair, appearing mildly sheepish, a strange look for him.

"My name's Basil Velius," the being said, voice lower pitched. "I'm what one would call an Eldritch Abomination, as one hundred percent organic and existent one can be. I quite literally eat secrets, information, knowledge, whatever you might say. And otherwise tend to cause the kind of effects my species usually cause, which I apologize for." He grinned, moving back into more pleasant territory. "Nice to meet you, my ah, book wizard-y friend. Hope all that got through, as I'm trying to be a little more careful- otherwise, I'll repeat it, or write it down. I could use the practice."

Maybe he'd continue to add a little more casual details about himself if given the go ahead, and with the serious things and usual warnings dealt with.

Basil first only took and held onto Daniel's offered hand with both of his own, giving it a squeeze and looking a bit distracted himself, as though there were some secrets he could learn from the action. Then, he brightened and gave a rapid fluttering of their clasped hands.

"Daniel! Dan? Danny?" he tested the name, then nicknames, out thoughtfully. "Danny Daniel, freckled book warlock! Basil, Eldritch horror and sweater enthusiast." He released Daniel's hand to tug at his own collar, making a bit of harmless fun of himself now. He had enough ego to spare for it, after all.

"Also, new student here," he went on to explain. "supposedly seventeen years old, but with what I am, it's hard to really say anymore! But as far as I know, that's what I am. Haven't been to an official school in a while, but this is definitely turning out more enjoyable than my last attempts. Your turn, Danny boy."

@"King"

Basil perked up, deciding getting this boy to smile like that was quite an achievement, and that he'd like very much for it to happen again. He watched the retrieval of another book with anticipation, but now also made sure to let his gaze equally flicker up to Daniel himself, and not just what he was doing with his power.

"That's longer than me. Although, I'm sure I would've been here earlier if I hadn't ah, been kept in captivity for so long. Researchers, such fickle creatures, am I right? Aaaanyway. Strange is what I'm all about, bud. Strange is me. Strange is entertaining! I live for that, I'm quite sure. But you're right, it is all just that. I'm not sure I've actually fully processed it all yet, maybe that's some sort of... mental breakdown waiting to happen. Or maybe I just feel like, inbetween the excitement, I'm too damn calm? That might be it."

Basil was rambling away again, but his tone wasn't harsh, and perhaps even lent a nice background noise to the other boy's work. Not too mild to ignore completely, but also not at all too much. He was settling, not exactly changing, but adjusting himself a little around Daniel where he could, while watching carefully for positive and negative reactions.

Basil raised his brows at this, and decided to (very softly of course, mostly for show,) clap. If Danny was happy with himself, Basil would go ahead and be happy too.

He did have something there, right? Was he proud that he'd attempted to get something and then... not gotten it? Was that better than getting it? Basil decided that instead of asking, he'd put out his palms to see if he'd get to hold whatever it was. If it was, like, actually a thing of course. Maybe then he'd catch on. Basil's curiosity squirmed within his body.