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 Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:42 am
Pana trailed behind her guardian Lizz by the cord of an IPod. They entered the public library; the electric sentinels, standing watch for any would be shoplifters, permitted them entrance without any stipulation. They both carried coffee cups; Pana’s was filled with steamed vanilla milk, while Lizz’s transported an apple tea (the idea of drinking her usual almond latte seemed both strange and intrusive, as if she was drinking Pana’s essence) Lizz sipped, winced, and then stated to the girl
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“Okay, so I know an afternoon in the library isn’t the ideal way to spend an afternoon…” she readjusted her slipping backpack back onto her shoulder, “But a book holds a lot of adventures! You can go anywhere, defeat dragons, and build castles (and I really need to study)…”
She trailed off as they made their way into the back of the library. From what she knew of Pana already, this idea of physical idleness albeit mental stimulation, would not sit well with the child. They made camp at a lone table in the corner. Setting her backpack on the table, she opened it in one swift movement and pulled out a children’s book. A dragon’s fire flashed across the cover and she handed it to Pana.
“Give it a try. You never know, maybe it will be a good way to center your energy.” Lizz mused.
Pana eyed it like it was diseased, but accepted it out of both respect and wanting to please Lizz. Her fingers flipped through the pages as she found a seat nearby. She finished it within five minutes; the elementary language left behind a taste of that Lizz both didn’t fully know and understand her just quite yet. Not the one to take it personally, she decided to extract a use out of the situation. The books that lay dormant on the shelves cried out for her to be picked. Her eyes flashed with a sudden inspiration; removing herself from the seat, she went to get lost amongst the bookshelves.
She grabbed as many books as she could carry, making no notice to the authors who dedicated themselves to them. They weren’t going to be read, but instead used as building blocks for her own castle. She began the foundation out of sight of her owner.
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:44 am
Most of Sara's outing had yet to seem pleasant to him - clothes shopping and bumping into less then agreeable people, but she assured him that he would like this little field trip. The place they were going to was called the library. As they walked there he could only imagine what was there, his mind filled with the extravagant scenes from the stories he'd read.
Once they finally arrived he couldn't help but give a grumble once he saw that it was just a building. It seemed a little larger then the other ones on the street, but not really that noteworthy,
Of course, once they entered in his opinion that it was nothing special quickly changed. Books! The place was filled with nothing but books! "Go, explore." Sara smiled, wandering off as Seph set him in the first direction his feet decided was convenient to head in. He wandered through the shelves, scanning the spines and the titles of all the books. He could spend days, months, years in here! Sara's collection at home paled in comparison to this.
He passed by some tables with people reading, a smile on his face. There were other people that appreciated books. He thought it was just Sara - out on the street he never saw people reading. Seph continued through the shelves, halting when he saw most curious and disturbing scene.
What... on earth was that girl doing with those books? And if he wanted the answer to his question he should probably ask just that. "What are you doing?" He said with a serious tone, the smile that had been plastered on his face faded and his lips curled in disdain.
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:13 am
Pana had just finished her third layer when a questioning voice from behind caught her by surprise. She finished placing the book that was in her hands and picked up her coffee cup; she was never confronted before, and felt more comfortable with something to hold in between them that wasn't being questioned. Turning around, she faced the authority. A strange recognition fell over her, and she knew that they were of the same kind. However, she also sensed that he wasn't too particular to her activities. She sipped from her cup and kept it simple,
"I'm building a castle, of course."
After the words slipped from her, she realized that that it might not of appeared as clear (it hardly looked like a castle just yet) as she imagined. She couldn't take back the words now, but she hoped that he would take her idea without too much confrontation.
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:14 pm
Seph couldn't imagine what logical explanation there was for stacking the books in a way that they could topple over. Why couldn't she just read them and enjoy the books how they were supposed to be enjoyed? If she couldn't, then why was she even here?
And as if further mocking him she took a sip from a coffee cup.
But the answer finally came and he looked at her with a mix of annoyance and something along the line of are-you-crazy? "That's not what books are used for." He replied, insulted by the fact that she was building a castle out of books and for the fact that it was pretty shoddy castle in his opinion. Seph had read about much more grand and interesting ones in well, books.
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:44 pm
The boy didn't seem to respond well to her idea of making books useful, however it didn't seem like he would stop her either -at least not yet. She placed the now empty coffee cup on the ground and continued her work, keeping an eye on him all the while.
"Well no, not in the traditional sense," she responded, as she placed another book on her wall. "But it's what I'm using them for"
It was then that she caught a glimpse of the missing limb; besides a slight double-take, she attempted to not make her surprise visibly known. Though intrigued, she knew the boy was already unhappy with her and any further prodding would probably make matters worse.
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 8:23 am
Seph just watched her, wondering what kind of barbarian couldn't get clue that this was not how use books even after he had told her. It seemed she was completely oblivious to her mistake and he wondered exactly how much prodding it would take for her to realize. Some people were just beyond sense. Like that girl he had met in the park...
Maybe it was girl thing. "Well, books shouldn't be use like that." He reiterated, hoping that would help.
But to add insult in the injury it seemed she finally noticed that he was missing an arm. Seph noticed because it wasn't first time he'd seen someone try to hide their reaction to it. He could tell she was restraining herself from saying anything about it. "And yes, I am missing an arm." He said coldly, taking one of the books off of her stack.
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 12:08 pm
It seemed that she wasn't going to get to finish her castle- at least not while the boy was distracting her. Maybe, she thought, if he warmed up to her a bit he might not be so closed to the idea. She turned to face him, noticing him deconstructing one of the would be towers. She would replace it with another book, but it looked like her supply was out; she'd have to get more.
"I'm Pana," she said, " I'm sorry about your arm." She wasn't sure what else to say in the situation, as for she never came across it before now, and hope that was enough to settle any sensitivity.
"How should books be used then?" she asked. Maybe, if she listened to how he likes to use books, he might listen to her.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 1:40 pm
Seph just watched her carefully, wondering what it was that she could possibly say next. An introduction? No doubt he would get a name, and then inevitably - an apology about his arm, as if she'd somehow tore it off herself. All of this made him angry, especially when the person didn't notice his condition at first glance and then changed their demeanor after.
He was no different when the person had met him, but yet they acted differently. "You don't have to be sorry." He responded in a nearly venomous voice, holding the book with a tight grip.
"Books should be used for knowledge, or to transport us to magical worlds. Or even to see people suffer through hard times." He said with an enthused, but still strong will tone.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:14 am
Desdemona was excited beyond words. The great magical, and all telling May Taurt had asked- nay- required that Tango bring her to the library. She had yet to be to one of these 'libraries', but from what she'd heard from May, it was a magical-fairy-princess-kind of world that had only like...a bajillion stories. And Desdi truly liked stories.
To her surprise, the only real fuss Tango had put up about the whole escapade was that she leave her snakes home. She'd been hesitant. Wouldn't Bourbon and Whiskey want to see the great stories too? But her brother's stern expression told her she wouldn't exactly be getting her way on this matter, and with a graceless sigh, she'd accepted.
Now, she was clinging to her brother's hand, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, waiting impatiently for him to open the door.
"Be silent, here. No yelling, no talking. You whisper." He commanded of her before slowly opening the door.
Dropping his hand, she let out a squeal of excitement before darting into the building. She didn't make it far before a yank at the back of her shirt had her toppling backwards into her brother. "Shh," he hissed, any angry glare on his expression.
The girl quickly clasped her hands over her mouth before nodding vigorously, and this time, walking into the building with much more patience and grace.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 9:04 am
“Yes, yes, that!” Pana said excitedly. “The one bit, the transport to magical worlds; that’s what I’m doing now! I’m taking this story, this world…” she went to reach for the dragon book but it wasn’t in plain sight. Drat! She must have used it for the foundation.
“Well, the story of the knight and dragon (I’m sure you know) is what I’m creating now. This is my castle” she declared, showing it off like a new car salesman trying to sell his first car. “And you are the dragon!”
Normally, she would rather work with someone than against them but he was being rather dragon-like in personality. He was grumpy, rude, and uninfluenced by her attempts at being kind (or at least what she considers kind.) She had even told him her name as a penance, yet he didn’t seem to care for such exchanges. Well, fine.
She pretended to hold a long horn between her hands and blew into it. VAAAROOOO. She crouched as low as she could; her eyes and top of her whipped cream hair could still be seen.
“A dragon approaches but do not fret good people, for a knight is standing forward to save the day!”
She popped up quickly, hitting one of the stacks and almost knocking it over. So she wasn’t the most graceful of knights, but a knight she was nonetheless.
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 8:46 am
Seph wasn't convinced that she was doing just that, not the way she was doing it. As far as he was concerned, she was stacking books. If Seph could cross his arms he probably would have did so, but the best he could do is give her a skeptical look as she talked.
And she continued to talk he became even less pleased, especially at being cast as the dragon. "I am not a dragon." He said coldly, though it didn't seem to dissuade her in the least. No, she continued to play along. He wasn't a dragon, he was... well, he didn't really know what he was. But he wasn't a dragon!
But he didn't move from his spot, just watching as the story continued along, and rather unsuccessfully at that. He nearly cringed when she bumped into the stack of books. "You're not supposed to do that!" He said in loud voice, somehow attracting Sara's attention - whom he'd thought wouldn't pop up for a long time.
"Oh, what's going on here?" Sara said in a soothing voice, though she didn't seem angry by the shouting or the stacked books.
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:46 pm
"This here is my castle," Pana replied excitedly to the newcomer. She wasn't so sure if an adult would quite understand her methods and ideas on how to play out a story, however it was still worth explaining.
"This boy here," she motioned to the dragon-boy, " Is a dragon! He keeps breathing out fire and I'm defending my castle and it's quite a messy battle, you see." She cupped her hands once again to her mouth and made a trumpet's call to battle.
"You better get inside before he attacks again!"
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