Very Important Research! (Open)

[Locke F. Herald]

This was research that couldn't wait! Any day now he could be expected to know this, and it wasn't something Locke had ever read before. It was a complete foreign idea to him, but he found use of it now in his life. But he couldn't let people see him reading this, imagine the social stigma associated with it! The little reputation he did have would be ruined by letting anyone see this book.

It was for this reason that he was so on edge, sitting in a back corner of the library. Again he turned the page, seeking the information contained therein. Was it worth so much to put himself in so much danger? It seemed a rather simple thing, but there was no other way. Many times he considered putting the book back and walking away, but he always found himself picking it back up and continuing his reading.

And so, Locke Herald turned another page in the book he had selected. A Teen Romance.

[rin]

Weaving in and out of the book shelves Rin was searching for something to read. Something that he'd read a million times over, or at least read the plot line a million times over. He was coming around one of the last book shelves when he spotted a boy sitting and reading a book. The boy looked extremely interested in the book in his hands so Rin did his best not to disturb him.

Spotting a book he got up on his tip toes to snatch it from the shelf. His fingers brushed the binding and though he kept stretching it was just out of his reach. Rin put one foot on the bottom shelf and hoisted himself up, and having done this many times before he wasn't took worried of it toppling over. His hand touched the book and started pulling it out, but the book was wedged in there rather tightly.

"Don't fall...don't fall...don't...ACK!" The sound of falling books and falling boy came from his aisle as he lost his footing and the book. He sat up rubbing his head face scrunched in pain. Sighing he began picking up the books knowing he wouldn't be able to put them back.

"Stupid impaired height." As he muttered he stacked the books leaving the book he had wanted to the side. He rubbed the back of his head again then tried to pick up the stack of books. Failing he toppled over books spread out over him like fallen leaves.

"Flüche!" He lay there staring up at the ceiling not really feeling like trying again. It was much safer for him not to move.

[Locke F. Herald]

OOC: Yay! Someone responded!


IC: Locke had been absorbed in the book, analyzing every word, ever possible hidden meaning, he'd understand this if it was the last thing he did. When a sound made him jump like a flash. The sound happened to be that of a girl falling down onto the ground from a bookshelf, followed by a collection of books. He slammed his book shut and buried it under a pile of unassuming school books, his face slightly red.

He watched her try to pick the books up and then watched her drop them again, now lying on the ground.

If he didn't help her, she'd never get out of here. Sighing Locke moved from his table and wandered down an aisle, finding what he was looking for. He returned with a library ladder, one of those silly ladders on wheels. Which he rolled next to the girl on the floor.

"It helps if you use a ladder, the shelves aren't designed for people." He said, looking at the girl on the floor.

[rin]

(ooc. yep... It made me laugh soo hard when I read girl...so very hard)

Blinking he rolled his eyes to stare at the cat eared boy and nodded still not bothering to sit up.

"Ladders just aren't as fun, and besides shelves are just really big ladders." Very carefully moving the books off of himself he sat up stacking the books again as he did so. After stacking them in about three piles he grabbed the smallest pile and stood.

"Hi, names Rin. Thanks for finding the wonderment of the ladder for me." He shifted the books to try to give the other boy a hand to shake but ended up dropping them. Groaning he bent to pick them up again. "I'm the biggest klutz on the planet. Poor books..."

Rin stood again grinning a bit at the other boy and then looked at the ladder. Frowning he didn't like the idea of climbing the ladder with an armful of books. He set the stack on an empty space on a lower shelf and grabbed one book.

"Guess I'll have to do this the long way." He started up the ladder then glanced down. "Um, you wouldn't mind helping me would you? I mean you already gave me a great present of the mighty ladder but could you say hand me the books?"

Rin shelfed the first book then smiled down at the boy his hand held out for the next book. "Please?"

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke cringed as the books were dropped again, crashing all over the floor. If any book in this library still had it's binding intact by the time this girl left it would be a miracle.

"Ah...sure...I guess..." Locke responded, never the best at dealing with girls.

Wait a minute...wait a minute. She was a girl, and she was a teenager...that meant...that she would be a prime person to ask about this whole deal. But how to ask, he couldn't be too direct, no he should start off slow and simple.

He handed her one of the books as she reached down for it.

"So what kind of books were you looking for?" He asked, genuinely interested.

[rin]

Grabbing the book he handed up to him Rin's eyebrows raised a bit at the boy's question. It kind of made sense they were in a library and he had just been covered in books. He shelved the book then turned for the next one.

"Oh, anything that I haven't read. Anything who's plot hasn't been written a million times." A weak smile to the boy hoping that his answer wasn't too vague. "The book I had picked was the one by your right foot. Sadism Behind the Pain, or something like that."

The book had sounded interesting to him, and it helped that he dealt with pain nearly every day of his existance. That tid bit of information could wait to be told. No need to freak the guy out with his grossness.

"I, um, saw you reading. What genre was it?" Rin liked books though he never really retained much of what he read he still enjoyed the process. It was something to do that felt somewhat productive.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke's eyebrows arched at the title of the book. A book on SADISM?! Maybe he shouldn't have picked this unassuming girl to talk to, she was starting to creep him out.

When she asked what book he was reading though, Locke's natural reaction was to turn away as he passed up the next book.

"Oh, it was just a novel, you know. They have plenty of them in here, they are good for a quick read now and again. I mean I normally stick to the more serious ones but I like to relax and read fiction now and again, sometimes it's cool." He said, not aware that he was babbling on.

Nervous habit and all.

[rin]

Rin paused in his action to shelf the book and stared down at the boy as he rambled on about the topic of books. Either the kid was hiding something or he really liked books, or both. He turned and rested his bum on one of the steps on the ladder crossing his arms over his stomach.

"Yeah, I like all sorts too. Though I don't go for serious ones as much. Life is too serious most of the time as it is." As he gazed down at the cute boy he blew his somewhat long hair out of his eyes.

"I'll probably get a book on poetry along with the book at you feet. Just can't get enough of the stuff." Rin quirked half a grin then turned back to shelf the book in his hand. Hopefully the poetry comment will cool the fact that his last book was on sadism. Or it'll make the boy think that not only is he crazy about sick twisted stuff, but he's also an air head dreamer. Oh, well, can't win them all.

"You know...you never have to be ashamed of what you read. Not that I'm saying you are, but the whole dodging the question thing." He was being nosy and jumping to conclusions again. "Sorry, I read too much into things. It's your business what you read."

Turning he held out his hand for another book a charm bracelet with various purple objects dangling and shining in the light.

[Locke F. Herald]

"Poetry?" Locke echoed. What the hell was wrong with this girl? Was she going to write poems about blood and pain and torture in her spare time? That was...just insane. He was so worked up in this he missed her next comment about him dodging her question, he was in thought mode now, and all outside effects were ignored.

"You know poetry then...well...um...is it true that...uh...girls like poetry?" He had heard a rumor to the effect, but he'd decided to invest time into it when he had more to spare, now he needed the basics.

But if she liked poetry, maybe there was some validity to the rumor, and that he could use to his advantage. After all, who would know better then another girl?

Seeing her outstretched hand he jogged himself out of his thought zone and handed another book to her, watching the bracelet jingle in the light. It was a fine piece of jewelry. Wait...didn't girls like that too?

[rin]

So that wasn't exactly where he had imagined the boy to go with his admition of liking poety. But it was better than being called gay, or a hippie, both of which he'd been called. Though the first claim was more true than the second. He didn't much like being called gay but he sort of fit the part of a gay guy. Girly clothes, girly hair, girly actions, and girly hobbies.

"A lot of girls like poetry. It has this whole romantic tie to it most of the time, though I dare a girl to swoon over Poe." He loved most of Poe's work, and Emily Dickinson as well for both wrote about death. Frost was nice and Blake was insane, a man who seriously needed medication.

"I love it personally, the light and dark sides of it. The symoblism and hidden meanings. All of it just speaks to me I guess." Another book shelved and they were almost done. He turned for another when something dawned on him. Had the boy just called him a girl? Or was it because he liked poetry he might know if girls liked it too?

"Course not just girls like poetry. Considering many famous poets are male." Rin shoved his dark purple-ish hair out of his face the repeated looking down making the longer locks to fall in his face. Not wanting the conversation to end he decided to ask a question too.

"So, any particular reason you wanted to know that little tid bit of info? Or any other questions?" To have a boy who kind of looked like a book worm asking him questions made him feel smart. He wasn't the brightest bulb but he wasn't the dimmest either. But who doesn't like feeling smart?

[Locke F. Herald]

"Poe..." Locke repeated the name, he knew it of course, but only the basics. Edgar Allen Poe, wrote rather dreary and dark writings, most famous for his poem "The Raven".

"Um yeah, I know there were male poets. But I don't think the dark and dreary stuff is what sh-"

And with a strangled sound he clamped down on his mouth with his hands. Not a good thing to say, not at all.

So topic change, GO!

"Um, what is that bracelet you wear? With the things dangling on it? It looks different from anything I've ever seen." It did look pretty, with the light in the area bouncing off of it, casting purple lights about the shelves. Maybe she'd like something like that, it might be doable.

He had completly forgotten about handing her the books she was putting back up. She was a girl, and somewhat easier to talk to, if not a little creepy. That meant he could learn a few tricks of the trade from her, and use them to help with Kiri. That was a perfect reason to continue this conversation.

[rin]

His eyes narrowed in curiosity at his actions, the whole sentence stopping hand clamping-ness was a bit odd. And being himself he was always nosy, even more so because the boy's reaction was so cute!

"Isn't what? Sh- what? Come on its not like I'm going to make fun of you for something." Resting his rear against the ladder again he looped his arms around the sides. "I don't know too many people, pretty much a recluse. Only been attending for about a month now."

Rin leaned out giving his best reassuring smile. "Come on, share with Rin Ji."

And a topic change. Rolling his eyes he shook his head leaning back against the ladder before he fell off. At the question about his bracelet he lifted the wrist it was on and jingled it about.

"This? Oh, just various charms that were purple. Family presents, and little trinkets that I've bought." What he didn't need to tell the boy was that most were somewhat sharp, and he used them to use what his family called his "gift" without the capital G. "I like the color purple so I collect purple objects. Like people who collect butterflies, but less morbid."

This guy sure had a lot of questions. What he wanted to know was the why behind them. Was he just being friendly? Or was there something underlying them?

"So...what brought you to the school?" That question was a whole lot nicer than the ones he wanted to ask, such as does your cat ears mean you're a demon? How old are you? "Idd you ever tell me your name?"

[Locke F. Herald]

Now it was Locke's turn to field questions, though Rins answers had been innocent enough. He was glad that she decided to leave well enough alone and not question his topic change.

"I'm Locke." He said simply, remembering that he was passing books to the girl, so he reached down and grabbed another one. "And I am here because I wanted to learn. About anything really, books, people, events, Gifts. It's all the same, and all very useful. There are two ways to learn though, read and listen."

He handed the book up to her. "So what about you? Why are you here then?"

[rin]

"Read, listen, and one more you forgot." He paused reaching for the book then stopped not moving away once his hand touched the rough cover. "Experience."

A quick wink and he rose turning to put the book in its place. At least he'd been right in guessing the boy was a book worm. His name was interesting and jokes sprang up into his mind. But he kept his mouth shut like a good boy. If you're the lock who's the key? Mind if I unlock you? Gah, that was bad.

"I'm here because..." No one wanted me. "The same reason anyone goes to school. Learn, control my abilities, and to maybe make some friends."

Rin twisted to gaze down at the boy and grinned like a fox. "So, isn't what? Hmm? Thought I might drop it? Nope, you're dealing with a geniune nosy person here."

He squatted holding onto the railing of the ladder stretching out until his arms were straight. Basically looking at the boy upside down he kept grinning. "Come on. It won't hurt I promise."

[Locke F. Herald]

She'd got him with the experience part, even though he knew it he always forgot to mention it. So foolish of him, he knew that better then most.

For a moment, he didn't understand her question. But when she mentioned dropping it, his eyes went wide as he realized what she was talking about. Damn his big mouth!

He really didn't want to tell everyone...but...Kiri wasn't exactly stealthy, so most of the school knew she was going out already. Add that Locke stuck out like a sore thumb, and it was only a matter of time and energy for anyone to know.

"I...um...I was thinking of finding some...poetry for someone...or writing some maybe...I'm..ya know...good at writing."

How delightfully awkward. "Keep it quiet please? I...um...wanted it to be a surprise..." So he told her a secret, and then he told her to stay quiet? How much more complicated was this going to get?