Balthier and the library. [open]

[aheroisme.livejournal.com]

Who: Balthier and anyone wishing to join in.
What: Off to the library, to find information on the Filial.
When: Now.
Where: Library.
Summary: Unable to stay "home" any longer, Balthier decides to search for information on his new surroundings.
Rating: G

Balthier stepped into the dark, chilly library, pulling off his new cloak to shake the rain out. Outside, the rain poured with the same ferocity it had displayed all day, and the humidity gave the library's interior an almost frigid edge.

"It was warmer at home," Balthier grumbled as he hung his cloak on a peg to dry. He fumbled in the darkness for a small box of matches he'd coaxed from one of the shopkeepers, pleasantly surprised to see that he'd indeed managed to keep them safe from the rain. The best luck I've had since I got here.

Lightning flashed outside, briefly illuminating the room through the dirty windows. Balthier started, positive that he'd seen someone else in the building. When it struck again, however, there was no one there.

Not even twenty and five, and already going mad. He sighed unhappily as brought out the candles, careful not to waste matches as he lit a few -- surely, there were more, but he certainly was not naive enough to think the Malnosso willing to accommodate any of them forever.

Two candles he placed in the middle of one long reading table, and a third he left in the windowsill. It wasn't much, but he hoped that perhaps someone would see it, and join him in this lonely building.

He moved toward the nearest bookshelf, eyes straining to make out the titles on the shelves. Perhaps the fates did smile on him, a little -- the language was his own, and he would not have to seek a translator.

After selecting a book on the history of Luceti, he settled down in a stiff chair to find out what he could about this cursed land. Perhaps ... perhaps something within would be helpful in their plight.

Comments

[ailesvalentine.livejournal.com]

Vincent sighed and his clawed arm soon fell limply to his side. He closed his eyes briefly. The headache he had encountered before was coming back to him. He shook his head, gently, and faced Balthier, noticing his interested gaze at his golden hand.

"It's just a gauntlet." he said. He sounded heavier and more exhausted as usual, the storm wasn't doing much to help either. He silently asked the young man if he could sit down next to him, and he nodded back in approval. Vincent took a seat and let out a soft moan, he was so tired.

Processing the information he had heard, Vincent crossed his arms and sunk a little deeper into his cushioned chair. Malnosso...they were truly a force to be reckoned with. He noticed his breathing, and the silence that followed their conversation was a little comforting. He found that silence was always there for him, no matter where he went, and he appriciated it.

"Survivors," he finally started, breaking the awkward air around them. "How many?" he simply asked.

[aheroisme.livejournal.com]

Balthier was embarrassed that Vincent had caught him looking -- usually, he was far more tactful, but there was something about the glittering appendage that fascinated him.

"As far as I can tell, I've only seen a few. The schoolteacher, and a small girl-child I've glimpsed on a few separate occasions."

[ailesvalentine.livejournal.com]

The brooding man sat a little more upright. "I didn't know the school teacher was a survivor," he replied. It wasn't really a reply, per se, he was just talking back to himself. He closed his eyes once more and leaned on his knees, hands crossed together tightly. He still felt Balthier's eyes stealing a few glances at his clawed hand, however, but it was alright. He was used to the feeling.

"I'll help you look for information," Vincent finally said. He moved his head to the side to face Balthier, crimson eyes seemingly boring holes into Balthier's own brown ones, and added, "But I don't know how much help I can give."

[aheroisme.livejournal.com]

"Aye; she seems to have more information than anyone else. I think a few moments with her will be more useful than reading this entire bloody library."

Balthier smiled faintly. "The help is most appreciated, no matter the measure. I can only hope your search is more fruitful than mine has been."

[ailesvalentine.livejournal.com]

He nodded in his seat and proceeded to stand. Vincent scanned the room quietly, noticing how dark the library is even with the fire blazing in front of them. He looked around behind him and fortunately, found a wooden torch lying around. Vincent touched the flame with the tip of the torch and in seconds, the fire had spread to the wood just enough to use it as a light source.

"I'm not going out in the rain just yet," Vincent said. "There's something strange in this library that I just can't pinpoint." He narrowed his eyes to the silent dark around them.

[aheroisme.livejournal.com]

Balthier blinked at the new light source, shielding his eyes from the momentary brightness.

"Is there?" He asked curiously, peering into the darkness around them. "I thought I saw someone earlier, but I thought it was a trick of the light. My partner is the one sensitive to that sort of thing. What kind of strange, if you don't mind me asking?"

[ailesvalentine.livejournal.com]

Vincent nodded, without taking his eyes off the darkness surrounding the two men. He noticed Balthier's discomfort with the new light source he had just produced, so he turned it slightly away from him.

He wondered if his partner was in the strange land as well, but decided from asking. "...can't describe it too well, but it's there." he finally answered.

"Like the library is keeping something from us."