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 Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:05 pm
The library was a wonderful, quiet place and Marie felt at home amongst the books. Nothing could ever compare to such a peaceful atmosphere and Marie was growing increasingly grateful that Green had agreed to let her spend the afternoon here while she took the others shopping. The little blonde girl was curled up in her cape and tucked into a corner of the library, completely absorbed into Ponyboy's world.
Her imagination was soaring high as her eyes raced across the pages, wondering what she would have done in Johnny's place. Would she have been able to do what he did, in order to save his best friend? She wasn't sure.
She chewed her bottom lip and flipped the page, excited about finishing the story.
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Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:47 am
Eriol was a bit hesitant about heading for the library. He hadn't been able to set foot in once since the last library he'd entered tried to drown him. But finally he'd exhausted the pile of books in his room. He wanted to get some for Viviana as well, and simply didn't have the financial option of purchasing new books.
So the library was the only choice, and there was only one library he could trust. At least there, kids appearing was common and something he was used to.
Viviana and Outcry were packed into a new gift for the three of them DS had picked up. It was one of those newfangled baby-carriers that could be worn like backpacks, with an extra attatchment so that the daemon could ride too. Girl and whale looked in amazement at all the books, waving whatever limbs they had. It was certainly impressive, and oddly comforting.
"Ssssh," Eriol hissed, closing the door to the library behind him. "Hey! Anyone here?"
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:10 am
The girl heard the door open, the baby's gurgles and the stranger's call but the sounds did not register. Instead, she continued to chew on her bottom lip. The book seemed to have enslaved her as she was nearing the last few pages and could not look away. Tears streamed down her began to trickle down her cheeks and she let out a soft, sad hic-up.
Why were the best stories the ones that always made her cry?
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:29 am
It didn't look like anyone was there, but there was some sort of sound that indicated otherwise. Frowning, Eriol ventured further into the library, more cautious than he would have been otherwise.
Around one of the many corners he found his answer. A small girl, reading, and... crying?
"Aw crap," he muttered to himself. "Hey... hey, wha's wrong? You okay?"
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:23 pm
Startled, Marie gasped and jumped about a foot into the air. She hadn't expceted to meet anybody there. Weren't libraries supposed to be quiet and empty?
But that doesn't mean somebody else couldn't come in search of a good book to read, she reasoned with herself, that's what libraries were for, after all.
"Y-yeah," she nodded her head and used her cape to wipe the tears off her cheeks, "I'm sorry. I was reading. See?"
She smiled sheepishly at the older boy and showed him the book in her hands.
"The Outsiders," her cheeks flamed scarlet when she realised he must have seen her tears and she blurted out, "The ending is sad."
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:57 pm
"Oh. Jus so long's yer not really upset." It must be a girl thing, crying over sad books. A couple of his "sisters" could often be found doing just that, curled up among a mountain of blankets, or lazing on the grass on a sunny day, with a book and a tearful expression. Most of the time it drove Eriol nuts, but he didn't see a reason to say that.
Cooing happily from her spot on Eriol's back, Viviana waved both arms to the girl. The movements were slow, as if the infant was submerged in water, but she seemed to be putting a great deal of energy in her greeting. Below, Outcry blew a bit of air, staring intently in front of him.
It was hard for Eriol not to be embarrased. What he must look like, with a kid and a shrunken whale on his back! Still, he tried to gloss over the situation with a short apology. "Sorry fer interuptin yer readin."
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:50 pm
"No, I'm fine," Marie assured him with a shy and unsure look on her face. She wasn't sure what to make of this boy, who was so much taller than her and carried a baby on his back. He intimidated her, that was for sure, but something about him suggested that he didn't mean to make her feel that way. So she stayed, but swore to herself that she'd retreat back to her corner and finish reading the moment it was necessary.
A small, sweet giggle escaped her when the baby on the boy's back waved at her. She looked so funny! Amused, Marie waved back at the child with her left hand and cast a sideways glance at the mini-whale beneath her. Ettiquette required that she not ask, but the questions were threatening to spill off her tongue and into the open air.
"That's a whale," she said as a matter-of-factly and walked around Eriol to get a closer look, "Doesn't it need water to survive?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:30 pm
Outcry's eyes caught on the girl and began to follow her movements, but he remained still. He was actually enjoying the attention, but didn't want to show it. He left the antics to Viviana, who giggled and reached her arms out. When they were out on the street no one ever paid much attention to her, but this girl did. And she seemed to like Outcry too.
"He's a freak of nature or somethin," Eriol muttered, then shook his head. There was no need to act roughly towards the stranger or the whale. "But yeah, most whales do. This guy's sorta got his own built in. Y'can touch 'im if ya like, see what I mean."
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:11 pm
Marie giggled in response to Viviana and reached out to the girl with her left hand, careful to make sure that her right arm was still carefully concealed beneath her cape.
"Hi," she cooed, briefly wondering why it was so much easier to talk to babies than to others her age, "I'm Marie."
When Eriol spoke a small frown presented itself on her face and she shook her head, "Never a freak."
"Wow," she said tentatively and manouvered herself so that she could use a finger of her right hand to gently poke the whale without Eriol seeing it.
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 12:09 am
Viviana tried to touch the other girl, but was a bit too slow. Marie's attention was back on outcry by the time she'd moved her arms. A bit sulky, she puffed her cheeks out and waited.
When Outcry was touched, the thin layer of mist that enveloped him swirled around Marie, staining her clothes slightly with watermarks. He did not seem particularly against the girl's touch, though he didn't seem to enjoy it either.
"Th'are too freaks," Eriol muttered under his breath. In a slightly more cordial voice he introduced himself. "I'm Eriol. That's Viviana, and the whale's Outcry. S'nice ta meetcha, I guess. Come here a lot?"
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:40 pm
Marie didn't mind the watermarks for she was too amazed by the bubble of water that Outcry floated around in. She adored the water, lakes with soft, light brown sand espescially.
She turned her attention back to Viviana, this time waiting long enough for the babe to latch onto her finger.
Deciding to ignore Eriol's 'freaks' comment, she replied with a shrug, "I'm Marie. Pleased to meet you, too, I guess."
The blue-eyed girl paused for a moment before answering his next question in a light-hearted tone, "Not really. My mother took my sisters shopping... and I didn't want to go along."
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:29 pm
Viviana curled her finger's around Marie's outstretched digit slowly. Her hand was stiff and holding on was hard, since she kept sliding around. But the effort, to her, was worth it. It was nice to feel someone else's warmth.
Understanding the agony of a family shopping trip all too well, Eriol nodded sympathetically. "I know. It's a girl thing or somethin." Upon remembering Marie's gender, he hurried to correct himself. "I mean, some girls anyway. I've got a buncha sisters, an most've 'em go shoppin a lot. But some don't. Like Linnea, she's shy and stays in her room most've the time. I guess yer like her."
Wincing slightly, Eriol tried to pull his foot out of his mouth. I mean... yer more quiet. I guess."
Nice save, he thought mentally, brushing some hair out of his face. Looking like a slob and acting like an idiot, what would he do next? Eriol had no romantic ideas concerning the younger girl, but he wanted to appear decent at the very least.
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 4:00 pm
Marie sensed the difficulty Viviana was experiencing, and though she was confused, the blonde girl moved her hand in whatever direction would help the babe the most.
She laughed at Eriol and then stopped abruptly, eyes widening with surprise. Had she really just laughed? It wasn't very common that she relaxed enough to laugh with somebody she'd just met.
Perhaps it was the way Eriol had fumbled, or maybe it was the baby's presence.
In that moment, she didn't feel shy or awkward.
"I like shopping for books," she said conversationally, crossing her eyes in hopes of exciting a giggle from Viviana.
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 9:13 pm
There were no giggles, but Viviana did let out a high-pitched squeal that one could guess meant she was amused. The girl-person looked silly when she did that, but also a little scary. Suddenly she wasn't sure if she wanted to keep holding onto a scary person, but she did not let go. Partly because it would take a good deal of effort, and partly because holding onto something, anything, made her feel better.
Outcry snorted scornfully, blowing bits of mist into the air, but remained still. He would never show it, but he was a bit scared of the crossed eyes as well. The only evidence that anything had changed was the rigid way the daemon held himself.
"Ah, me too." Other than browsing hoverbike and motorcycle shops, the only stores Eriol went into of his own will were bookstores. "I mean, libraries're cool an all, but sometimes ya jus wanna keep the book. So tha' way yer not worried 'bout messin' it up an havin ta pay a fine. Or not returnin' it when they want ya to." He'd racked up fees at several libraries due to those offences. Still, when it came to finances, the price of a library book couldn't be beat provided you returned it timely.
Pausing a moment, Eriol actually looked at the girl and bit back a laugh. "What're ya doin, lookin like that?"
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DivineSaturn Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:38 pm
"Exactly," she nodded in agreement, "if the books is your own, you can read it whenever you like how many times you like. Also, there's always the satisfaction of nothing that something belongs to you."
The high-pitched squeal caused a yelp of surprise to come from Marie and it was all she could to stand remain where she was, suddenly frightened by the babe in front of her.
When Eriol spoke again, blood rushed up into her cheeks and she cast a sideways glance at the older boy.
"I was just trying to make her laugh. Really."
Had she done something wrong? She hadn't meant to.
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