CS:/ep1/virprinceps3
OJ okay, sorry about yelling
OJ i just wanted someone to help me
AD ...
OJ ...can you help me?
They sound almost like a normal patron.
AD (sigh)
AD What... can I help you with?
OJ okay
OJ i'm doing this research, and i haven't really looked into more scholarly texts
OJ and the lab has all these cool dusty books, but i was thinking
OJ i could get even cooler and dustier books at a library!
OJ and there aren't many in letterpal. sad really
OJ and i've never used the teleportation system before, but it's quicker than a flight y'know?
OJ so, i thought to come here
OJ capri heights seems like the best place for huge nerds
OJ like this tome right here. also sprach za... what language is this?
OJ i know this is some light reading for some blue guy
They were looking at the titles before handing them to you, though they clearly haven't absorbed anything meaningful.
OJ but yeah, that's why i came here, specifically
OJ just a feeling, i guess
OJ what were you doing with these books, anyway?
AD ...
AD I work here.
OJ oh, you're a librarian?
AD No.
OJ ...
OJ but you work here?
Not feeling inclined to explain the field (or your backstory) for the thousandth time, you glare at the shelf across from you.
AD Do you have a library-related question or not?
AD The details of my employment are irrelevant.
OJ okay, okay, sorry
OJ i promise i won't waste your time
OJ i'll be worth the trouble, i swear
You make a mental note to hit your head on a brick wall later. It would be a more merciful pain.
OJ it's about specters
OJ specifically, ones that do more than just the usual energy synthesis
OJ we haven't found many answers on our own
OJ but i know this'll be a piece of cake to someone as blue as -
AD ...azure.
OJ huh?
AD ...
AD (sigh)
AD My color code is Azure.
AD That's all.
OJ oh
OJ right
OJ i mean, right, sorry
OJ capri heights is all about asuli, after all
OJ you'd probably find more azures here than anywhere else
OJ plus, that was kinda dumb of me in retrospect, haha
OJ what else would it have been? aqua?
They laugh, though you couldn't understand for the life of you what was so funny.
OJ can't think of many colors that hue that start with...
OJ ...
AD ...
OJ ...
You stare at them. Have they stopped blinking?
AD Is something the matter?
OJ ...
OJ ...you...
OJ you're talking to me
AD What? Of course I am.
AD Were you paying attention?
OJ what i've been... what i'm seeing and hearing...
OJ that's you
OJ i didn't know... i thought i could only do it with him!
OJ what does that... huh...?
AD ...
You suddenly feel compelled to continue shelving very, very far away from here.
AD I have other responsibilities to tend to.
OJ no, wait!
OJ wait
OJ don't leave, please
OJ i'm sure this means something
OJ maybe i don't remember, but...
They exhale.
OJ have we... met?
> Answer.
AD E-excuse me?
OJ i just, uh
OJ i just got a feeling, i guess
OJ i know it sounds weird, but i could guess a name, if it helps!
OJ an...drew? au...drey?
OJ a...d...rien?
OJ i'm onto something, right?
AD I...
OJ oh!
OJ i didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything haha
OJ sorry if it sounded like, uh
OJ i promise i wasn’t trying to be creepy
OJ it’s just
OJ ugh, how do i put it…?
Nervous laughter. They close their eyes, thoughtful.
OJ i haven't been able to do it with anyone besides appa
OJ and you don't have that... unfamiliarity that usual strangers have
OJ which makes me think maybe i know you from somewhere? maybe i forgot?
OJ i forget things all the time, haha
OJ so if i'm onto something, just let me know
OJ ...
OJ does that sound logical or should i... uh...
OJ stop... talking...?
> continue