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 Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:42 pm
Ever was still horrendously conscious of how he looked. He wasn't generally vain, but he thought there was a difference between obsessing and acknowledging and the fact was, the left side of his face was still black and blue, though at least the swelling had gone down...and he needed books, and he never wasted an opportunity.
Having a steady location made his life less interesting, not moreso. As nice as it was to have a free shower and meals, it got dull. Hours to fill. The result was a rather large pile of books -- largely fiction, for once -- with 'The Once and Future King' on top. He kept his head tipped slightly, hair pushed as forward as it went to try to obscure his eye, as he set the boks down.
"..um. Sorry." Needed his library card. Ever went fishing through the pockets of a torn-and-faded jacket in search.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:55 pm
It was a slow day in the library, and Tony was playing with Dogby at the front desk. He had to bring her to work because Nate refused to take care of her at home, and he didn't feel right about leaving the puppy on her own just yet. Anyway, it was likely that she would just chew everything up.
She had a lot of energy, and running around alone would only spell trouble.
So he brought her to work, and after the first day it had become a requirement by the other staffers and the regulars that she come and be the library's dog as much as his own. He was glad she wasn't a terror, most days, and was getting better about staying on her leash. She loved everyone she met, and that kept her happy.
At the moment, he was rolling a ball down the front counter and she scrambled down it to fetch and bring the ball back. It wasn't a long way for her to go, but she was stubby and small, and seemed perfectly happy to play in the limited space. He looked up when someone put down some books, nearly falling out of his seat in surprise. Dogby looked at the boy, wagging her stump of a tail, the ball in her mouth.
"Ah, no, that's..." he got distracted by the book, not recognizing the boy as the one who had caused the commotion not too long ago. "Oh, this is rare. A book I've actually read. Find everything okay?" Usual librarian question while he waited for the card.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 4:59 pm
Ever blessed his lucky stars that there was no recognition, no 'Oh, you again', no stern look or getting tossed out on his a**. Dark eyes passed over the dog briefly -- dismissively -- before flashing up onto Tony instead.
"I'd better, at this point, I think." It was dry, a little flustered, swiping his hair back in a thoughtlessly familiar gesture as he produced his library card to check them out.
After a moment, his eyes flicked back down to the monster with the ball in her mouth, and he shoved his hands into his pockets, very much not wanting to play. He didn't realize that it was always the one who wanted a dog's attention least who ended up getting his face licked.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:11 pm
Dogby was exactly that kind of dog. She believed everyone was her friend, but some of them just needed a bit more convincing than others. She didn't register, and certainly didn't understand, the meaning of him putting his hands into his pockets. He could just take them out again! Wagging her butt, she toddled over to him and dropped the ball down on the books, yipping eagerly.
"Dogby, don't be rude," Tony said, absently, like Dogby might listen to him. He was busy scanning in the card and taking the books to check them out and demagnetize them so the alarms didn't go off. He stamped them last, before making a new pile of books that were done. The ball had rolled onto the counter in front of Ever, and Dogby was staring at him with all the intensity a Corgi puppy could have.
Tony looked at the boy while offering him back his card, frowning.
"What's happened to your face?" He asked, then shook his head. "Er. I mean. The bruise. Uh. It just... I just saw it. I didn't mean that as rude as it sounded... oh, don't I know you from somewhere?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:22 pm
He was still watching the excited little puppy, his expression skeptical as he considered the ball and definitely -- definitely -- didn't take his hands out of his pockets. Ever really didn't want to encourage the beast.
"...um." He looked up at Tony, blinked a couple times, and already flushed around the edges.
"I, uh. I'm here a lot, I guess. Free entertainment, blah blah blah." Already forgetting his intentions, he did pull out one hand to make a yacking gesture, fingers opening and closing, young and a little awkward.
As for the eye....he was silent for a long moment, trying to figure out what the best answer was. Kidnapping attempt by a terrorist and its demon was a bit farfetched. Saying he got in a fight sounded too tough.
"And I, um...got jumped." Just right. He pushed his hair forward again.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:46 pm
A hand! Dogby had been staring at him without relenting, and the moment she saw the fingers of his hand she moved for them. If he wasn't going to pick up the ball, maybe he needed some hints. She started to lick at his hand eagerly, barking lightly. If it could be called a bark.
Tony nodded his head at the explanation of the boy being familiar, though he didn't look that convinced. He kept giving him a critical, thoughtful look, while he tried to place the face to any recent moments he could call back.
"Ah ha!" he said, snapping his fingers and pointing at him with a knowing smirk. "You're one of those two boys that was causing all the trouble in here a little while back. And by trouble, I mean being loud. Not the worst thing that's ever happened, but still. Not proper library behavior."
Tony didn't seem too upset. He was more concerned about the rough appearance of the younger man, and the bruise on his face. Destiny City was a rough place, and Tony well knew the crazy things that happened here. In fact, he was almost surprised when Ever, whose name he saw on the card and computer, said he got jumped.
That was a story Tony had used before.
"Jumped? By who? Around here? ...er, I don't mean to pry. There's just... a lot of crime in this city, and I can't help but wonder if it's all related... or. Uhm." He cleared his throat.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:53 pm
Oh, he didn't usually get flustered like that. But he was also usually dealing with teenagers who thought a lot of themselves, or strangers he'd never really have to bump into again. Tony was neither, and he remembered him, and not in a favorable light. That left Ever wincing a little.
Wincing and digging for some kind of explanation.
How had the man looked? He remembered tights, mostly. Tights and fruity shoes. Not that there was anything wrong with that [Lord knew Ever didn't care], it was just a useful descriptor. But that also sounded crazy. Kids didn't go around jumping people dressed in Baroque era dress.
"...he was tall." There, that was true. he'd definitely been tall, and that was saying something coming from Ever. He clicked his lips. "I Don't know what he was expecting, exactly."
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:07 pm
Tony tilted his head as he watched Ever, frowning. Tall wasn't much to go on.
"Tall? I'm tall. I didn't jump you, though. Unless I did it in my sleep, I suppose," he smiled reassuringly, seeing the expression Ever was making and thinking he was probably uncomfortable talking about being attacked. It wasn't generally something people liked to share with strangers.
"I hope it wasn't near here. Where do you stay? Do you think they might come after you again?"
Tony couldn't help himself. If someone had trouble, and he was available to offer them any kind of assistance, he would certainly try. The only trouble with that instinct was his inability to talk or interact with people without feeling or creating some kind of awkwardness, sometimes his own fault, sometimes on accident.
Well, that was one of the problems with it, at least.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:17 pm
More awkward questions. Ever rubbed at his good eye, watching Tony askance -- and then the opportunity behind this moment hit him like a[nother] slap in the face. He immediately shifted into 'poor pupp' mode, reaching out almost absently to take the ball and fighting down a wince at the spit covering it.
"I'm staying with some guys, now, um. However long that lasts." What was he supposed to do with it now? After a moment, he tossed it away for the puppy to go chasing.
"I think it's okay, though. He seemed kinda young, you know? Just. Trying to...show off, or whatever." He cleared his throat as he looked up at Tony more serious. Gauging his reaction.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:26 pm
Dogby, who had been sitting near Ever, staring at him endlessly, just waiting for him to relent like she knew he would. She never doubted him for a moment and he didn't disappoint! Of course, now he was holding on to it and not throwing it, which vexed her. She whined at him pointedly, nudging his arm with her nose.
And then he threw it, and she almost missed it, staring at him with her dopey, happy face, and then hearing it squeak when it hit the counter. She barked and darted after it.
Tony nodded his head, now fully concerned that this young man was living in the wrong area of town, with the wrong kind of people. He also was beginning to wonder what tall kid trying to show off might have given him a black eye. He certainly could think of one off the top of his head, but then he felt like a terrible father for suspecting his son.
However terrible he might be.
"Teenagers are wont to do that, I think. Still, I don't see the point of jumping a stranger just to flex some muscles. Ah... this punk. He didn't, uh... he wasn't around here, was he? Or maybe... had... white tips in his hair?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:51 pm
...and Tony was walking right into it. Ever's mouth shifted, biting down on a quick answer to actually think about that. The simple fact was that if he said 'yes' and fingered the librarian's kid, that was easily disproven. So he cleared his throat like he was uncomfortable and shrugged a little, scratching fingers through his own pale hair.
"Um. It might have been, I'm not...I'm not sure. He was wearing a hat." Just enough truth to add some weight to the story. Ever rolled his shoulders again, holding out a hand hesitantly to take the library card back.
"There was no other reasoning I could come up with. I was there. I don't exactly look wealthy..." He flushed again, meeting Tony's eyes frankly. "Kinda drunk. Easy pickings I guess."
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:03 pm
Tony frowned, glancing down the counter as Dogby came scrabbling back over the counter with the ball in her mouth. She was wagging her tail, looking perfectly happy. She dropped the ball between the two, not caring which one threw it for her again.
The librarian was too busy looking thoughtful and vaguely upset. If his son had been the one to jump a young man just because he looked vulnerable, Tony would not be very happy with him.
The boy did have a hat he sometimes wore.
Tony was going to have to talk to Nate, see what he knew about this whole thing. Not that the boy would tell him the truth. It would probably result in a door slamming and then a TV being turned up too loud for Tony to be heard over.
"I didn't want to ask, though now you bring it up. You said you don't look wealthy, and you were out there drunk? Do you... need any help... uh... at all?" He looked at bit sheepish, though his worry was sincere, as was his intended offer. Dogby whined and he tossed the ball for her distractedly.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:16 pm
Ah, damnit. Not that Ever minded the offer but...well, take-advantage-and-run would end in running and he had to be able to come back to this library. He rolled his eyes a little as te snagged his card back and tugged it into a ratty -- and mostly-empty, yes -- wallet.
"Um. I read a lot. That helps some." He pointed at the books, with that, flicking Tony nervous looks. "Don't know what else you would do."
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:22 pm
Tony saw Ever's expression fall and waved his hands frantically.
"Oh, I meant. I mean, yes, books. You're more than welcome to come and read as often as you like, that's what the place is here for, but I meant, ah. I didn't mean to put my foot in my mouth or make any assumptions but..."
He watched as Dogby returned with the ball, but this time she held on to it and chewed on it vigorously. Tony looked back at Ever, shaking his head and chuckling a bit at his own stumbling.
"I just meant a job. If you needed one, you could work here. The student helpers haven't been all that helpful recently. I could do with another pair of hands here at the front desk."
He offered the younger man his books, sliding them forward on the counter.
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:39 pm
Well. That was also a little bit terrifying. Ever shot a look over his shoulder to make sure no one was waiting, and then reached out to wrap his arms around the books, draw them in closer. He should have brought his bag with him; poor thinking, that.
He made a sound as he turned back to Tony, shifting where he stood and really thinking about that. "Uh. Like. Official job?" Asking 'would I have to pay taxes' was crude. He dug around for a moment.
"I don't know where my social security card is, and my license actually um. Expired last spring..." But it wasn't a no. Just a matter of working out the details.
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