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 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:14 pm
The Korean girl's English lesson had just ended for the day. Hyo had already departed with insistence from Lai, who was planning on staying in the library anyway and did not want to trouble the girl with picking up. The tall man stood, dusting his loose pants off as though there were something on them, and got to work tidying up.
He first adjusted the papers he had brought with him, they had become quite scattered as he had retrieved various sheets of writing paper. With that task completed quickly, Lai turned to survey the mountain of books the girl had been looking over since she had arrived to wait for him, four days too early. The Russian picked up three books at once and flipped their spines toward him so he could read. One title was extremely small, so he set them down and put on his glasses. Immediately the text was legible when he looked at it and knew exactly where this book was normally lodged. Lai picked up three more and carried them to the shelves, bespectacled eyes glancing at the small metal plaques that designated what was where.
"Should be...Ah! Here." Book number one was inserted right at the end of the shelf. The second one in his arms was in the same shelf, but further down so the man walked there. If anyone entered he would be completely out of sight, and unable to see himself who entered.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:44 pm
Luckily for Einar he didn't have to enter anywhere, or come from anywhere, considering he'd been in the library since late the afternoon before. He was dozing beneath a stack of books near the back, mostly because they'd fallen on him late last night and knocked him out cold, and mostly because since the masque, he'd been in here hiding and reading to take his mind off things.
The faint sound of snoring could be heard beneath the stack, and the only sign that someone could be beneath that pile was Einar's bare arm sticking out from underneath a small section of books that hadn't landed on their sides or spines. His fingers twitched every now and then, as if he were typing something, but it was mostly because Einar was probably dreaming.
"...n....not the child....nor..."
Einar's words were soft, like he was pleading with someone, though they had a certain amount of authority to them as well.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:19 pm
Lai found the resting place of the second to last book and quickly shelved it. One more for this first passing of books and then he would go fetch a few more. Probably eight or so this time, the six he had started with had not been weighty at all, and he figured the more he took the quicker the pile by the table would diminish. Lai flipped the book and looked at the title on the spine, this book's dust jacket gone for whatever reason. He found that the book was about northern animals, the sort that live in the tundras and arctic, and he couldn't help but flip through to look at the photos as he walked.
The sound of the book pages flipping, his previous shelving, and his steps in his shiny black boots, had covered up the sound of faint snoring coming from up ahead of him. Lai stopped as he reached the correct case and turned into the aisle, the same one Einar was lying in sleeping. He still didn't see the man, a color photo attracting his attention and amusement. In Lai's time photos were in black and white, though occasionally there would be sepia photographs as well, so full color astounded him. Since he wasn't moving he could now hear Einar's snoring and he looked up from the brown caribou in a field of yellow and pink flowers, and looked down the hall.
Caribou and flowers fell to the ground and the cover of the picture book snapped shut over it. Lai had almost fallen backwards, startled, but he was lucky to have good balance this time. What had caused him fright was the arm sticking out from a mountain of books near the end of the aisle. The source of the snoring was whoever was encased in it.
Slowly he bent and picked up the book again, but instead of holding it in his arms the Russian held it up, like a shield or weapon given what should happen when he got over there, and he made his approach. The first thing he noticed about the bare arm sticking out of the pillars of books was it was heavily scarred from the wrist up until it vanished into the tomes. This puzzled him, he did not know anyone with such damage to their extremities, so whoever it was, he had never met them. Or so he thought. He could hear words coming out, but could not decipher them, the voice was too soft. Now he was really curious, so Lai made his final approach, the one that would allow him to see the other person's face. Clutching the book he leaned over a particularly high stack of books and saw the slumbering person's face. And his immediately turned red.
"Einar..." Lai's own voice was quiet, the rules of libraries being finely ingrained. He adjusted some of the books and knelt down, happy he was in pants today or that would have been a challenge. Momentarily the scarred arm he had saw was forgotten but as he heard soft snoring from the blond he recalled it. Lai turned his head and looked at the scarred flesh and was surprised that it belonged to Einar. Then again, he had never seen the Norwegian without long sleeves on, so he never knew. Another round of speaking that he couldn't make out brought him back to looking at the face that at the moment looked so innocent and vulnerable. A question wrapped around his mind right then and he found himself speaking it as it appeared.
"Should I wake him?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:55 pm
Einar did not wake as the books were lifted from him, though it became clear that the removed weight did help ease the troubles of his slumber somewhat. The pained look he had been wearing on his face lessened to one of mere concern and he turned his head to the side, allowing the whole of his throat to come into view as his chin had been hiding it from sight.
There was a long scar on his throat, one that looked so deep that it was a wonder anyone could have survived such a thing, and despite its radiant pink-purple color it was obvious that the scar was quite old - probably as old as the scars of the same color that decorated parts of his arm that Lai had been able to see. There were many smaller scars that ran here and there, but it was the large scar that ran over his windpipe that was probably the most profound. It quivered for a moment as Einar let out a large exhaled sigh, though it quickly calmed back down.
It was pretty funny how he could sleep through something like this, being buried under books and then dug out, but then again he'd slept in much worse situations. Like with gunfire and actual fire and screaming and other things, so sleeping under books in a silent library wasn't that bad after all. It was almost like being back home, sleeping in a cave covered with rocks because he'd miscalculated while exploring.
"...nor...nor...hall...Audun!"
Though he stumbled through the first bit of words like he was in a haze, Einar's body sat right up at the name he cried out, almost like it was strong enough to drive him from his dreamland. Right away a trickle of sweat ran down his cheek and off of his chin, landing on the ground and Einar panted to catch his breath. He didn't see Lai near him, he didn't see the books on the floor or even his own hand touching his face. It was like he was still in a fog.
"God, not again."
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:14 pm
Lai's spoken thought evaporated into nothingness as his eyes caught sight of the scar on Einar's throat. The Russian paled as he looked at it, concern creeping into his mind even though it was as plain as day the scar was quite old. His eyes trailed to Einar's exposed arm and like his throat many of the numerous scars were the same color, indicating their age. His eyes would not let him gaze at the arm for longer than a few moments before they were back at the top of Einar's chest. His eyes found the man's other shoulder and saw that the arm was also covered in many scars. Soon he was back at the throat wound that, like the shoulders and arms, had many smaller scars branching out from and around it. Morbid curiosity and a feeling that if he touched Einar he wouldn't wake made Lai extend his hand out, but he stopped just short of his fingers brushing the skin as the Norwegian cried out.
A cry of surprise rang out from Lai and he quickly withdrew his entire thin frame from Einar as the younger man sat up. A hand clasped to his mouth, causing his reading glasses to slide down a bit onto his nose, as he tried to stop the sound that had already been expelled. Concern for this man, the one he deeply cared for and had not seen in many long weeks, took over and Lai gripped the nearest scarred shoulder as the drop of sweat fell and Einar spoke. His other arm reached across and a few inches away from the Norwegian's heaving chest to grab the opposite, and equally torn up shoulder. Through his palms he could feel each and every one of those old wounds, but that did not matter at this exact moment. Once in his grasp Lai turned the blond man toward himself, gently shaking him as he spoke with a voice a couple octaves higher than normal and frightened eyes looking over thin gold-rimmed glasses.
"Einar? Einar are you alright? Please say something!"
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:33 pm
Einar heaved his chest in and out for a moment as he tried to calm himself, finally glad when the shadows of his dream disappeared and were quickly replaced with a familiar voice he'd come to know and love sounding worried right next to him. He turned his head in the opposite direction of where Lai was holding on to him and blinked, finally managing to get his gaze in the right spot.
"Lai? What are you doing in my room, did you break in?"
It seemed like he was unaware of where he was at the moment, or at least still half-asleep, but the young man quickly yawned and stretched his arms up and out. The nightmare from before appeared to never have existed, his whole terrorized awakening was just a figment, and he blinked once more as he looked at Lai a little longer.
". . did you always wear glasses? I don't think I've ever seen you in them, but I must say they make you look rather sharp."
The compliment came off with a bit of a purr, nothing harsh.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:53 pm
Puzzlement crossed the Russian man's face as Einar thought Lai was in his room. He gave his other half's shoulders another squeeze, but gentle this time, before searching his face and then speaking.
"Einar, do you not know where you are? You are not in your room, you are in the library." His tone was calmer and soothing, so as not to worry the man over the way his tone was just moments before but there was an edge there that was full of concern. What had Einar been dreaming about just moments ago? 'Audun'? It sounded like a man's name... The question and compliment sent out by Einar pushed the name out of his mind for the moment and Lai removed his right hand from Einar's left shoulder to quickly adjust them back into place. Looking over them at the Norwegian his worry melted away somewhat, gazing at Einar's face rather than his bare shoulders and neck, and he smiled warmly at him.
"No, not always. I only use these for reading. In fact I should take them off, I can read you fine without them." He chuckled and then took them off, folding them and then placing them off to the side before reaching out and cupping the left side of Einar's face as the flirty compliment wore off. The concern leaked into his eyes once more as he stared into the Norwegian's green eye.
"Are you okay?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:57 pm
"Oh...you're right. Yeah. I must've passed out after I pulled that book out too hard and the rest of the shelf came tumbling down on me. I guess I didn't even bother trying to come to since sleeping on the ground in here is no different then back in my room."
He stretched his arm that wasn't being touched slightly but other things, not really noticing the pops and groans the muscles made from having been trapped for who knows how long beneath the books. He tilted his neck side to side as well while Lai took his glasses off, though he stopped moving entirely when the older man placed a hand on his face.
Cold hands. Gentle hands.
"I'm fine, really. How are you? I haven't seen you in a very, very long time."
Which was a clear and outward lie. Einar had seen Lai the night of the Masque, when the Russian took off his mask, but Einar had kept his on and thus kept his identity closed. They had said many nasty things to one another thanks to an unknown person in a mask that was really bold, and Einar hadn't forgotten a single word of it.
It was partly what kept him in the library and out of sight of others. He was disgusted.
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:31 pm
Lai's thumb brushed against the skin of Einar's cheek, just below the man's eyepatch, as a look of calm settled on his features. He trusted the Norwegian, so if he said he was fine, then he was fine. If he wasn't Lai was sure the man would tell him, just as he would tell Einar if he was not alright in anyway. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth and he nodded to indicate he was okay.
"I am well, thank you for asking." A sadness seemed to touch his eyes as Einar brought to light the absences of one man in the others' life. "I know. I have missed you terribly. I do not think we have seen each other since...Since the gardens." A blush rose high in his face and his smile turned coy as he remembered their last meeting, it was long before there was snow on the ground. A sudden cold rain had brought an end to that, but both men had left that place with smiles on their faces and a thrumming in their hearts regardless. Lai still did not know that the man in the opaque mask (aka "the p***k in the white mask") was in fact his Einar, but he was certain it wasn't. In his mind, at the time of the Masquerade Einar was most likely sick and in bed, so that is why he had not seen him.
"I was really worried about you, you know. Not having seen you in so long, I feared you had gotten sick or something." Lai was happy to be in Einar's presence again. It showed in his face and very much so in his eyes, but he wanted to be closer to the Norwegian. To hold his hand again and feel the gentle squeezes that mimicked their heartbeats, that was what he desired right now. Slowly he eased himself up a bit from his position on his knees and moved closer to the man, his left hand sliding down the bare, scarred arm as he did so. He rested with his legs crossed in a pretzel shape in front of him just as his hand came to rest atop Einar's. His face turned a shade darker and he felt like he had to explain himself and his actions.
"I just...Want to be closer to you."
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:36 pm
"I'm not sick, never have been. Ever since my accident I've been kinda blessed with an amazing immune system, so short of being shot with a NK-VB2 bullet, I'm fine and there's nothing to worry about."
Einar didn't think too hard on what he was saying, only that he was trying to sound a little reassuring. He was a bit sore still, from their argument that Lai probably never knew they had, but his deep like of the Russian was slowly outweighing that bitter taste. Lai (alone) was a sight for eye(s) and a good jump for the mood.
When Lai started to move closer to Einar, their hands touching and their body heat slowly starting to mingle with one another, the young Norwegian himself couldn't help but feel his own cheeks pink at the emotions he was being shown. Had Lai missed him that much, truly? Einar couldn't be sure how much he'd missed the Russian, but he had a feeling he was probably missed a lot more.
That thought made him feel a little disgusted with himself, but what could he do? His mind had been fulll of other thoughts, unfortunately.
"So what brings you to the library? I'm usually the only one in here."
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:08 am
"Oh that is good to hear. I am glad you were not...Are not...ill." Lai smiled at him, the reassuring tone in Einar's voice working. A flash of puzzlement hit his eyes though as Einar said 'accident'. "Accide--Oh." His eyes flicked to the Norwegian's eyepatch then quickly looked away from that back to the man's green eye. He knew Einar must have lost his eye somehow (why else would he wear an eye patch?) but ever since they had met he looked at the whole of Einar and did not immediately register the black material on his face. He knew it was there, and there were parts of him that were curious about the 'how', but he deemed it impolite to pry.
The pink flushing on Einar's cheeks pulled him away from thoughts of the eye patch and his smile turned coy again. It was probably caused by his moving closer, but it was still nice nonetheless. At the question he looked over at the discarded book with the color photos, but it seemed to have vanished amidst the other piles of books he had moved. He looked back and shrugged.
"Well I was just putting away some books that were piled up front, but my original reason for being here was because I was giving an English lesson to Miss Hyo." He vaguely reminded himself all of his lesson plans and papers were still on the desk up front. Then he remembered Einar more than likely did not know the Korean girl since he was not at the Masque and he was confining himself to the library.
"I met her at the Masquerade after a few people scared the girl out of her wits. She barely speaks the language so I took it upon myself to teach her. I just hope I can, I have never taught someone something as major as this before." He did not mention who the people were because he did not know them, and because Einar wasn't there either, so best to leave such a thing out before he caused an upset.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:50 pm
"Hyo, huh? So that's the name of that thing? And it's female?"
Einar slowly rose to his feet and dusted himself off, his body having moved out of Lai's touch and feeling stuff from how he'd been laying for God knows how long. His back and shoulders ached a little, probably because they had little gashes on them from landing on books that had bits of flesh and blood on them, but it was a pain he could weather. It's not like he'd never felt anything worse - anything far more painful then just book cuts, so thi was a shrug off.
As he moved away from Lai an object fell from where his legs had still been trapped under the books, something pure white, that made a clattering around as it contacted with the floor. It stayed partly hidden where it lay beneath a thick book, surprisingly not crushed by the weight that had come onto it with such sudden force. Whatever it was, it was nothing ordinary.
"Makes sense then, that it would be with you."
Einar didn't say much more than that as he slowly made his way towards the end of the aisle, leaving the mound of books that had acted as his blanket where they had fallen. His face was dark, his voice was deep, his mood was cold.
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:19 am
...What?
That single word punctured Lai's mind as Einar spoke and then moved from him. Rapidly his coy smile vanished into a look of confusion and the word uttered in his head open the door for other questions. The largest of these was 'why did Einar's mood just turn like that?' He couldn't seem to vocalize the words but as he was about to make an attempt he heard a clattering followed by another icy statement from the Norwegian man and then said man began to leave the aisle.
Lai stood to follow the man, his sudden turn in mood over Lai's answer as to why he was in the library confusing him greatly and he wanted to know why. The clattering caught his attention and he looked down, eyes almost immediately finding the white thing sticking out from beneath a rather heavy tome. The Russian man knelt down and easily slid the object from its literary prison. The moment it was free and in his hand his eyes widened. While the thing may have looked completely pure white while under the book, it was another story when freed. Along the near bottom of this object, blindingly obvious against the otherwise untouched pureness of it, was a grisly red smear like a smile.
"Einar...."
Automatically Lai knew when and where this object, a mask, had been seen. The Masquerade of course. He had talked with the person hidden by it, their first words quite kind to one another, but by the middle of the event said words had become sour and, on Lai's part, dripping with acid. When at first he had thought the man in the white mask was Einar, as that scene unfolded then he believed that it could not be at all. According to this piece of hard evidence in his hand, it looks like his original suspicions were correct. He was aware the man was no longer in the aisle and that in a few moments he would probably leave the room. The Russian had to ask, had to know, why he had just said those things now, and why he had acted that way at the event. Plus there was the fact that the blond had just lied to him when he had said they hadn't seen each other in a very long time. Quickly and with the mask in hand he got up and made in way down the aisle at a fast pace. He rounded the corner at a good speed, and Einar was still in view. Lai took the mask and held it up so the smear was facing the man. He approached slowly, his expression was hurt, the confusion gone from him once he realized.
"So you were there...Why did you lie? Why did you say those things then and just now?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:25 pm
"I don't really want to talk about it. I have my reasons for what I say and do, and you clearly have your own as well. Don't tell me you've forgotten what all you said to me, along with what I said in return."
Einar wasn't actually planning on leaving, stopping instead at one of the table that had several books full of maps scattered all over its surface. One of the larger books, one seeming more recent in date, was spread open with a map of Norway greeting anyone who happened to come across it. In strange handwriting it looked like someone had been amending it, adding notes here and there about changes in the border or towns, but mostly it was clear and free.
"You can make demands of me all you'd like, but the one who spoke their mind more and had words the stung the most was you."
One of the books slammed shut as Einar closed it, his fingers done tracing the edges of the paper in an idle motion, and the blond finally looked up and over at Lai. He'd kept his gaze down the whole time, his usual smiling face towards the Russian locked in a look mixed between rage and upset stomach. Hard to describe, but easy to recognize when looked at.
"And what does it matter to you? You're the one who said you didn't care first."
His head tilted slightly to the side as he spoke, those words issuing out with more than a bit of accusation on their behalf. It was as if the sweet nothings the pair had exchanged only moments before on the floor of the library meant nothing at all, like they had never even come to pass. Instead, only old wounds and bitterness now leaked from the Norwegian's mouth, and he was intent on letting the Russian man know how he felt - even if it wasn't entirely his fault. Waking up in a bad mood would set anyone off, more so if they'd been crushed by books the night before.
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:16 am
As Einar spat words at him, the hand holding the mask dropped down to his side. Yes, the Russian man did remember what he said. Yes, it had been rather waspish, but Lai was able to get that way when pushed too far, but the thing Einar was leaving out here was the fact the brown haired man had no idea it was the Norwegian behind the mask. To Lai, he had snapped at a total stranger, and that made the words being said to him sting more.
". . ." The Russian watched the other in silence, not moving save for a flinch when the book was slammed shut. That hurt expression that he was wearing had been melting off his face into something more angered, but once the Norwegian finally looked over to him that look was gone and the hurt was back. His face kept the reddened flush in his cheeks, finally biting the bullet and able to get something out past his lips.
"You seem to forget that I did not know it was you behind this," He moved the hand with the mask in it in a forward lurch to accent it. "Until just now. Had I known I would not have been so nasty, but in my mind you were sick in bed since I had not seen you in months."
Just looking at that face, that expression, Lai felt as though his words wouldn't get through, no matter how calm and civil his voice was. That night he had only tried to calm the frightened foreigner down, taking her out to the hall and away from the madness in the ballroom. He had only talked, not strayed, and in his mind the Russian was as loyal as they came. Hell, he had spent a good portion of the night wondering if the blond man was alright and if he would make an appearance. Looks like, months later, that he got his answer, but not in the way he was hoping for.
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