Open

[notsolomon]

Who: notsolomon & Open!
When: 1/15-1/18 (6/4-6/10)
Where: Library, Shopping District, Various
What: Working, Exploring
Rating/Warning: G so far



Library, 1/17
[So this is what it is like to have a job? Well, it isn't so bad. William could have probably chosen a job that provided more opportunities for immediate social advancement, but this place has it's perks too. When you're forced to help others with their research, it sharpens your skills as well. Already he's learned all sorts of small, but useful tidbits, such as how taxes work here and what trashy novels the middle aged women of the populace love. Well okay, he didn't actually want to know about the latter, but at least he's getting a feel for this culture.

This particular afternoon William's hard at work, doing some much needed shelving he's behind on. The questions from patrons have been non-stop and while he appreciates that people find him dependable, William really needs to finish up. Which isn't going to happen because someone is approaching him right now. Oh bother.]

Shopping district, Various Cafes, 1/15-1/18
[One of the benefits of having your butler arrive with you is that you can always be assured that he will brew your coffee just the way you like it. And Kevin hasn't failed William in that regard. Still, Kevin has his own job to attend to, so he cannot be around to fulfill William's need for caffeine 24/7. No matter how much he would like to try.

So it was that William had spent the last few days going to different coffee shops to try what they had, so that he could find the brew best suited to his needs. Granted, that didn't mean it was easy to choose. Half the places he went either made it too weak, or it tasted burned. Or at best passable. Which was better than awful, but why bother?

But, in any case one might see a young man visiting the different cafes, taking himself way too seriously.]

[Wildcard, 1/15-1/18]
[He's still exploring the city at this point, trying to find out what's where, as well as observe the people of this place. If he's going to live here, it won't due to remain ignorant of his surroundings. He's in a perfect state to be harassed or even just befriended. Though with William's luck, it will be the former.]

[OOC Note: I am perfectly fine with prose if that is what you prefer!]

Comments

library!

[harepiece]

[DEATH APPROACHES...

Or just Oz, who is actually completely obscured by this huge stack of books in his arms at first. Who even knows how he's able to navigate through the library without tripping, it's a true mystery... (or he's just been in the city and the library in particular long enough to know the paths to this section by heart).

Of course, as soon as he hears someone shufflin around with books, he lowers the stack a little to peer over the top.]

—Oh! Hello again!

[notsolomon]

[Oh, it's a familiar voice. Well, William can be slightly less annoyed, so he'll give Oz an actual genuine smile.]

Oh, hello Oz!

[Shelving the book in his hand William blinked at him.]

That is quite an ambitious stack of books you have there. I didn't take you for that much of a reader.

[Which maybe is a bit insulting, but he's also pretty impressed right now.]

[harepiece]

[GOOD LORD, A BIT but luckily insults tend to fly over Oz's head or slide off his back like water, so he doesn't seem bothered at all. He just shifts his stack a little more and beams right back, pleased as ever to see a familiar face.]

I try to read as much as I can, even here. It's relaxing! [And a good way to learn things about Tellus...! Or to try, anyway, since he hasn't turned up much actually useful information.]

And this is my favorite series, so I wanted to catch up all in one go. Are you- [A glance toward the shelf that he'd been working on.] -on a shift?

[notsolomon]

OH I think I have seen those ones around.


[He turned his attention back to the shelves a moment to make sure everything was as straight as possible. When it came to actual work, William tended to take himself seriously.]

Yes I am for a bit. About at the end of one actually. I just started worked here a few days ago.

[He frowned as he looked Oz over.]

Do you need help carrying some of those?

[harepiece]

Oh-- no, that's fine! [A smile! The poor guy looks like he's already got his hands full with the last-minute work his managers have probably shoved onto him. He knows how that goes...]

How do you like it so far? All of the job suggestions I got sounded fun, but I still haven't tried anything other than my first pick.

[He's thinking maybe he should add a few more part time jobs on top of that because ?!? Why not, basically.]

[notsolomon]

It is my job, so it would be no imposition. At the very least, I could have at least half of that pile held for you, so you do not have to drag it all home in one go.

[While it is extra work, William hardly minds putting in a little over time. He needs to extra financial cushion.]

It has been passable. I am good at organizing, so I am particularly well suited to it. Though I hope to move onto something better once I adjust to this place.

[Something that actually uses all of his talents. Though for now, the this suits his needs just fine. Besides, he has Kevin to support.]

[harepiece]

Well... If it wouldn't be too much trouble, that would be nice!

[Because Oz doesn't really have trouble carrying the books by way of weight, but it does definitely hamper his ability to... see. Which increases his odds of running into someone or something on the street, and the last thing he wants to do is drop and potentially damage these poor books.]

It's not too difficult to switch jobs here, though. You can even do more than one at a time if you're feeling up to the challenge! I've known a few people who do that, and a few others who have switched into different jobs more than once by now.

Also library!

[babermetrics]

[Someone who knows him might think that the only way Leon would end up in a library would be by mistake.

And they'd be right.

In exploring his new "home," a guy's bound to wander into some places he has less interest in than others, but the library is pretty near the bottom of the list in terms of places Leon's checked out (ha ha. no pun intended) over the past few days. The only reason he doesn't turn around and stroll right back out again once he gets a look at it is the siren call of a comic book section, or maybe some music, or something--basically, all the parts of the library that don't involve the literature.

And there's one more thing every good library has: comfy chairs. He's been walking a while, and one of those would be pretty appreciated right about now.

But the problem with libraries is this: those chairs are really comfy, and those books bring back so many memories of school textbooks for classes he'd never managed to stay awake for, and the point is, he sits down, and he doesn't even last five minutes before he's dozing off in the chair. This is some hardcore dozing. Like, flopping all over the furniture, proooobably starting to slip off it onto the floor, shoes dangerously close to the upholstery dozing.

At least he's not harassing any employees for any help with anything, but is this really better?]

[notsolomon]

[Even though he is no longer a prefect, William still has a natural love for the rules and public order. So it is when he sees the sight of this young man just sprawled out over their chairs. Their precious chairs. Their precious chairs that are usually not overly occupied at this time of day. But well, they could be. They totally could be.

And so William marches over to this interloper lightly presses his hand against the guy's shoulder.]

Excuse me sir?

[babermetrics]

[They could be, if not for this asshole.

This asshole's a light sleeper when he's not in a proper bed, though, so at least it doesn't take much to get him awake; it's not instantaneous, but after a moment he jerks and blinks his eyes half open, stifling a yawn. Aw man, he'd done the library nap thing again!

But he doesn't sit up properly quite yet, peering up at William instead as he gathers himself.]

Ah, whoops? Y'know, I never got why you make the chairs so cushy if I ain't supposed to sleep in 'em.

[notsolomon]

[Oh this guy still isn't getting up? Somehow, William finds this quite perplexing.]

They are made so for the comfort of the patrons here. Not for sleeping in. So it would be most appreciated if you would sit up, so as to free up space for others.

[Chairs are for sitting, not for sleeping. And if you really are going to sleep here, you need to do it without getting caught.]

[babermetrics]

[Boo, fine--that's what's written all over his face as he hauls himself upright, with another yawn. He's not exactly graceful or sheepish about it, but he does at least follow orders. Once he's sitting up, he still takes up the whole of the chair with his legs . . . and also, he still doesn't actually have any books to read.]

Yeah, yeah. I guess that's what's so weird to me, though! I bet you get a lot o' people here to study for school stuff, right?

[notsolomon]

[He won't complain if this fellow has actually gotten up. Though he wonders what he's doing here if it's not to read.]

Why would that be weird? And yes, we get a lot of students. Which is why you shouldn't sprawl around like that. It creates a disorderly atmosphere.

[senseandcecilbility]

[A bet is a bet. Who won the bet? Nobody knows. Not with so many blurry thumbs blocking the final results. However, Kevin is happy to believe it was William. That gives him the opportunity to bring young master cake and coffee after his own shift is over. A simple matter, really. It is not like he has grown used to watch the young man from bookshelves' corners anyway.

He is a little surprised to find out food is not allowed in the library. My, what barbarous rules. Not even tea? He hopes that will not cause young master to starve by accident. After muttering his apologies at a couple of automatons, he leaves the food basket outside, though the delicious smell travels into the library with him. And that is what William will probably sense even before Kevin greets him: caffeine and sugar, and the promise of the real thing.]

Good afternoon, young master!

[Boy, doesn't he look endearing as a member of the working class.]

[notsolomon]

[William hadn't eaten too much that day, too distracted on his break by the book he was reading to pay attention to his meal. He was regretting that a bit now, though fortunately he only had like an hour. But when that delicious, familiar smell started drifting in, it was like a suck punch to his gut. Oh, what selfish patron is taunting him? William with have to stalk them down and remind them that the only thing is allowed are covered cups. Which he as an employee is not allowed to have because people are awful.

When he hears Kevin's voice though, William lightens up a bit.]

Good afternoon, Kevin. Are you off already?

[What a strange thing to say of his butler. Life really was more convenient back in Stratford when Kevin was the campus priest. Neither of them had to work these average jobs and William could just hunt him down between classes.]

[senseandcecilbility]

[It takes him one look at William to realize he is hungry, experienced big brother figure that he is.]

Indeed. Tempus fugit, doesn't it? [Especially when one is learning how to grow begonias. It was very exciting!]

...Though on a more urgent note, I believe young master ought to reclaim your cake from the automatons outside. God knows what nefarious plans they have for it. Meanwhile, perhaps I could assist you with these?

[He sits by William's side and smiles cheerfully, picking up a random book from the non-shelved pile and browsing it. Dear Lord, which section should Does God Ever Speak Through Cats go to? Well, he can figure it out while young master puts some food into his neglected tummy.]

[notsolomon]

...oh I suppose I better retrieve it then. They might do something abusrd like dispose of it.

[Work verses Kevin's cake? Oh what a moral dilemma. But well William also has the amazing skill of sneaking off from his duties unnoticed, like all school boys his age.]

Kevin, just make sure to look at the numbers on the spine there....

[William pointed at the code on it. He really wasn't fazed by the title. In just a few days, William had managed to accept that people read a lot of absolutely banal garbage.]

You just match it on the right shelf from there. And well, I am sure you can figure it out.

[And he is going to quickly go out and retrieve that food, because damn his bad eating habits are catching up to him.]

[senseandcecilbility]

[Of course, it's Kevin's job to be a perfectly good influence and encourage William to elect food over work.]

Good heavens, that would be a waste, wouldn't it?

[Do not fear starving to death, young master. That is what butlers are for. After paying careful attention to William's instructions, he proceeds to shelve the books, the numbered codes coming naturally to him. Attempting his best to ignore the books content, he even starts betting with himself, attempting to guess how many titles starting with the letter "W" will fit in a single shelf.

Five titles! He got it right! He is as excited as a child about beginning the next row when William comes back.]

[notsolomon]

[Well after quite an extensive argument with the automatons, William got to have is cake and eat it too. Quite angrily because damn machines being so unreasonable. Humans are supposed to be your masters. Don't you know about the Second Law of Robotics?]

I swear, I do not know whether those things are a blessing or a hindrance....

[He pauses and stares at Kevin who seems delighted. Almost too delighted.]

...you seem to have taken to this rather well.

library;

[spyrites]

[If Jude isn't work at the hospital he's here. Surrounded by books helps him think better and researching is always a great way to distract himself from other kinds of thoughts. Being here continues to be hard, even more so when he can't work on his spyrite research or know the fate of his friends. So he just keeps himself as busy as he can.

He'd been here for a few hours, pulling many books and bringing them to the table he's sitting at. There are piles of papers as he takes notes. He's mostly absorbed by heavy medical textbooks at the moment, still always trying to keep on top of terminology and technology of this world. That was something that was a bit hard too.

But now he's approaching William, a heavy book tucked under his arm. He looks a little apologetic for interrupting his work.] Hi there... Sorry to bother you but could I ask for your help with something?

[notsolomon]

[William had seen the young man around, but hadn't otherwise noticed him. He generally didn't pay too much attention to anyone who wasn't causing trouble.

So William wasn't too put out when he was approached with a question. The only pressing business he had was retrieving some request materials at this point, which could easily wait for a bit.]

It is no bother. What is it I can assist you with?

[spyrites]

[Jude shows him the book in his arm. It's quite thick, the title indicating it's also something dense and scientific. His reading tastes are generally pretty boring but then again he'd come here to do research.]

I was using this book but where I found it originally seemed to be the wrong place. Do you know where it actually goes? [He'll be happy to put it back himself and all... he just isn't sure where that proper place is.]

[notsolomon]

[William's own tastes in books aren't exactly the most exciting either. It's a lot science, economics, technology, politics and law, with the rare book on demonology thrown in. In fact, he actually admires Jude's good taste.]

Oh yes. Medicine would be down there in the 600s. Do you want me to show you? So that it's easier to find in the future?

[spyrites]

[Jude smiles at his offer.]

Could you? I would really appreciate that. The library here is so much bigger than what I'm use to. [Even Trigleph libraries or the one in Orda Palace didn't really compare to this one.]

[notsolomon]

It is no trouble. It is pretty large.

[He begins to walk to the correct section.]

So are you a student of medicine or someone who works at the hospital?