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During the school year, Merope had done his best to interact with other students and over come the inevitable culture shock that came with moving into a new territory. He didn’t succeed very well. Over time he had became more and more of a recluse to the point that he rarely ventured out of his dorm room. Classes were an exception, of course.

School break had quieted the school considerably to the point where Merope felt safe enough to venture forth. There were still students around, but no nearly as many as there were previously. The Floresctival helped, too -- most students spent the day there and came back in the evening.

The Floresctival was just about over, but the library was still pretty quiet. Merope had taken over a table further into the library, the top nearly disappearing under the many books spread open upon it.

...Or rather some books were open. Some of the books were propped up on the table to form some sort of large oval, and it looked like Merope was alternating between squinting at this misuse of books and scribbling in a notebook.

At the sound of his name, Merope jumped and looked up, his fins clamping down in embarrassment not meant for him. He blinked, confusion crossing his features as he stared at Lizzy. “Er,” he replied, confused. “Do I... know you? I don’t think we’ve met?”

He continued to stare, then jolted as a thought struck him. “Ah!” He exclaimed, wincing and ducking down as a hissing shush was snapped in their direction. “Er, would you like to sit down?” Merope asked softly, indicating the seat across from him. “I feel like you’re someone familiar, but I can’t place you...”

Merope continued to stare, tilting his head to one side as he thought. Minipet training? He snapped his fingers, nodding. "Yeah! I remember that. I was surprised people showed up, though I don't think any of us made any headway on training," he whispered enthusiastically, his words trailing off in embarrassment. "It's a bit hazy for me. I think my mini got fed up with the session and flew out of there and I chased it. I remember the gnomes tracking me down to return the classroom back to normal, though."

"Either way, it's nice to meet you, Lizzy." Merope said as he used his pencil to tap the books in front of him. "I don't mind at all. Have you checked out Floresctival yet?" He tapped the books again. "Before the Fearados came and ruined everything, there was a booth that had racing seahorses. After seeing those, I want to build my own race track. I have a couple seahorses, but I'm trying to build something that can accommodate several different kinds of minipets, aquatic types especially. I'm also trying to think up obstacles, but if I put something like a barrier up," he stopped, reaching into his "track" made out of books to mime a hurdle. "They'll just swim over it."

Merope looked at her, nodding towards the track. "If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them."

"You had your own booth?" Merope asked, his ear-fins flaring with interest. "When the Fearados came, I was unlucky enough to be in the area when it showed up. Trust me, getting trapped under a booth isn't fun." He grimaced at the memory. If he wasn't undead, he would have dissipated and wound up in Cricket's office.

He shook his head, dismissing the memory quickly.

"It does? Thanks," Merope beamed, dipping his head quickly to hide the pleased blush that crossed his cheeks. "I thought it'd be fun, especially if I can build it big enough for several minis to race around at once. Most likely I'll have to build it in pieces and have minis go through it one at a time, though..."

Merope broke off, perking up at Lizzy's suggestion. "Oh! What about all of those?" He asked eagerly, grabbing a book off the table. He closed it and propped it up in the middle of his "course," making sure it stood steadily before adding another on top of it. "I like the idea of having them jump up and over it," he began, "The thing is, the track itself will need to be big enough to accommodate all sorts of minis... Unless I make it specifically for one sort of minipet."

"But then," Merope continued, looking eagerly from the book-track to Lizzy. "What would be the best minipet to race? The seahorses are small, so several can fit into a track at once. A follyjox I think would take up the most space... What sort of obstacles could that have?"

Merope shook his head, lifting one hand and waving it as if to dispel the subject. He lived -- or rather he lived as much as an undead could. "Eh, I'm fine. What position on Student Council are you running for? It sounds like a lot of work to be honest."

He broke off, glancing at his own project in front of him. There was an odd parallel between the Council-work and his own. The thought wasn't followed when Lizzy spoke, offering help. That stole the undead's attention. She was offering help? That... That was something he wasn't expecting. He wasn't ever offered assistance like that, either. It was a first for him.

"I -" Merope looked away, and took a deep breath. "Th-thanks. I'll-I'll keep that in mind."

He took another deep breath, then another before he held up his hand. "The seahorses at Sleuth's booth," he began, "Were about as big as the bottom of my palm to finger ti-candycorn!" Merope cursed as his elbow knocked down part of the book-track, causing a domino effect. Merope performed a bellyflop onto the table to try and keep the books in place, only to knock more books down and some off the table. "Fffrrrrrrrgh!"

Merope clung to the books, the loud shushing reprimand made his fingers curl tightly around he books. He waited there for a moment, opening his eye to notice that Lizzy was picking up books. Carefully, he raised himself up and winced as more books (free from being pinned beneath him) clattered noisily to the floor. He visibly winched as another "SH!" was shot in their direction.

"I think," he said softly as he helped Lizzy pick up the books and straighten them onto the table, "The library isn't the best place to try and plan this out. Especially with..." He waved vaguely towards the shelves. "Yeahh."

He fell silent as he shifted a book, moving it in hopes that it would not fall over any time soon. "Either way... Thanks. For your help," he added awkwardly.

Outside would free them of the strict silence the library required. Merope nodded in agreement, picking up his notebook and pencil. "I have the paper and a couple notes," he explained as they walked towards the exit. "But truth to be told, after grabbing a few books on racing... well. Most of them were about how to run or swim a race, not about the track itself." He frowned, adding, "Most swimming race tracks seem to be straight and boring. Just... swim to one side and then to the other."

He gestured over his shoulder. "Most of what I was looking for were... well. They were in obstacle course books. I guess most water-dwellers don't like to write, since the most information I could find were just famous obstacle swimmers. I used those books to try and build the course." He grinned, then shrugged. "I guess I was sort've successful?"