Soul 003 || Info gathering part deux | action: the library

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

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So far, that's all you hear as you pass a certain table in the library. Here, you'd chance upon a certain reaper and her ermine pouring over books. Mountains of books, it seems and on almost every topic imaginable but mostly on the areas surrounding Balamb.

There isn't a word exchanged between reaper and scythe except for the occasional "You think this is it?" "I dunno" and "I think we're on to something". Ras seems to have a bit of a time, though, trying to keep his balance on his hind legs while propped on a chair. His tiny forepaws flip through a thick book earnestly best they can and he takes care not to rip any pages with his claws.

"Uh... Shin..." he suddenly mutters.
"Yeah?"

There is a crash as the ermine teeters off the books he was "sitting" on and falls to the ground.

Comments

[redcinemareel]

[STEPS ON THE LITTLE ONE as Grell hobbles in, literally, letting a few books hit the table where Shin is sitting unceremoniously. She doesn't look so happy.

Why is the ground uneven?

Looks down.]

...why are you on the ground?

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

[ There is a squeak as Ras gets stepped on.

WIGGLE.

WIGGLE FOR YOUR LIFE, LITTLE ERMINE!

Of course, his owner can only stare at the ermine then back up at Grell. Then down at the ermine, up at Grell, on the books then back up to Grell. ]

He fell.

[redcinemareel]

[THAT'S SO CUTE! SHE MAY JUST LEAVE HER FOOT LIKE THAT FOREVER!

But, alas, all good things must come to an end.

Lifts up her foot]

He should be more careful. [Sits in the chair next to Shin.] Have you found anything? [Ah, Grell sounds tired.]

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

[ And the minute she does, Ras scampers up from the ground back onto the table, practically sitting on his book. ]



Cmon, Ras...

[ and with a sigh, she sets down her book. ]

Nope. Nothing interesting here so far... didja know Winhill has windmills?

How's the leg?

[redcinemareel]

[KEEP IT UP AND HE'LL BE COVERED WITH PAPERCUTS]

I think Marco told me that before. I'm not surprised he knows. [Her lovely little bird brain~]

It's healing. [Traces the bandage beneath her pants. Not new pants, mind you.] The doctor said I should be fine in another two weeks. Liiiiiittle does she know it will be a few days less than that. [Giggles and takes out a book from the pile she brought.]

I found this one about Esthar. If we're gonna go digging for dirt, we should start with the city we were in last while our minds are fresh.

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

[ D'aaaaw... birds and windmills. The reaper tilts her head slightly, blinking. ]

Well, look at it this way, at least yer leg's in one piece!

[ But back to business. Ras pads over, peering at the book Grell's holding. ]

[redcinemareel]

Always so optimistic~. [Grins.]

[Opens the book to a page she marked with a hawk feather.] There was something interesting about its army, but I didn't get far. The 'mother hen' came over. For the best, really, so we can go through it more.

[Her manicured finger runs over the lines before stopping at a paragraph.] I left off here. Esthar's technology is quite advanced. So advanced that a good part of their army are...si...sai...kai... [LOOK OF CONCENTRATION]

[The term 'cyborg' was created in the twentieth century, where Grell is from the nineteenth. She doesn't know how to say it!]

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

It helps with the job.

[ Both reaper and ermine peer intently at the book, Shin skimming the paragraph while Ras hops right over and reads over Grell's shoulder.

Of course, when she gets to the word... ]

CYBORGS?!

[ Shin can't help but shiver. Soulless automatons gave her the heebeejeebees. ]

[redcinemareel]

[The librarian tells Shin to SSSSSHHHHHHHH!!]

Ah, that's the word. [Makes a note of that.] I had no idea, either. [Awww, Ras on Grell. Cute~! She doesn't mind him there.] But...no one would willingly volunteer for that...

...unless...

[fierybluebird]

[Gets up from his place reading in the library and wanders over to help clear the books off.]

You should be more careful, eh?

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

[ There's a grateful ermine squeak as he hops up back onto his chair. ]



Toldja to be more careful, Ras.

[ She piles the books a little more neatly than they were earlier. ]

Sorry if we bothered ya.

[fierybluebird]

Nah, it's fine, eh. Looking for something?

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

Kinda. Helping Grell out with a personal project.

[fierybluebird]

Yeah. Here.

[Drops a small folder on top of the books which carries information on phoenix downs, reviving, and the general lack of cemeteries.]

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

[ There are now giant googly puppy eyes staring at Marco then at the folder then back at Marco. ]

Holy crap. I love you already.

[ And a pause. ]

...Platonically speaking of course! Because... because... because...



[ Excited ermine can barely contain his excitement. ]

[fierybluebird]

[Laughs.] Maybe I'm a shinigami magnet.

[Grins and stretches, SO proud of himself.] I investigated, eh.

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

[ And he's flipping through the papers, ears flickering in excitement. ]

This is really gonna help! There's just got to be something in here...

[ Someone's gonna make sure Grell hears about Marco's little contribution as payment. ]

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

Leaning over to straighten some of the monstrous pile of books, Duo smiles at a rather familiar face. "Think you're onto what? You look like you're doing some pretty serious research in here."

He pulls out a book, skimming a page talking about the fishing industry in Balamb before making a face and putting it back.

"You're not really looking at the economy, are you?"

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, the fishing industry in Balamb. Fruitful, considering how close they were to the sea. Of course, there was always the fact that some of the fish- wait, no, no, that wasn't why reaper and ermine had cooped themselves up in the library. Shin ruffled her own hair slightly as she looked back up at Duo. "Nah. Consider it research for a little personal project of mine. Something for work!" she replied with a sheepish grin.

A moment of scrambling later, however, Ras pops back up. The ermine's ears twitched a moment as he watched the exchange between his partner and the boy he recognized as "almost being dino chow". Both paws propped on the table, he tilts his head slightly before speaking up. "Hey! Wouldja know anything about the cities in this place? Any nasty rumors?"

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

"Work? I thought the only thing we had even close to work here were classes?" He glanced at the pile of books again skeptically. "Classes that haven't even started yet?"

"What? No, I haven't been here long rememb-" Duo cuts off and just stares for a moment. Someone it hadn't really sunk in last time that the little guy could talk. Man, he'd seen some weird things since in the time he's been here, but this beats out giant dinosaur monsters. So he says the obvious. "You can talk?"

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I can talk. Whatsamatter? Never seen an ermine talk before?" Ras asked, tilting his head slightly. His tiny ears flicked as he waited for an answer. Clearly, this was a serious question: a question that left his partner staring at him a moment.
"He probably hasn't."
"...oh. Uh... sorry then, Duo. But yeah, I talk. Last time ya saw me, I was a scythe though!"

With a sigh, Shin plops her head back down on the table. So much for her partner keeping things on the down low. At any rate, she turns her attention back to the boy by shifting her head just so. "It's not schoolwork... it's... personal work. Something I used to do back home." she replied, managing a tiny grin.

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

"Ermine? So that's what you are? I thought you were a ferret or something. My bad." He raised and eyebrow then, looking at the talking creature closely. "A scythe. You mean like the weapon she was holding? Because I hate to break it to you, but while I'm sure your claws are pretty sharp they're not quite scythe-blade material."

"Personal work, huh? What sort of work. If you're looking for juicy intel it's gotta be pretty interesting." His grin was quite a bit bigger than hers, because maybe, just maybe there's some interesting extracurricular stuff here after all.

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

At this, Ras seems to take a teensy bit of offense, crossing his arms across his chest and tapping his foot once. "Ermines are cooler than ferrets, yknow! And FYI, I was the weapon she was holding." he corrects, a small smirk appearing on his furry little face. The ermine had a bit of an ego after all. "Besides, what would you know about scythe blades?!"

But the reaper meanwhile is paying a touch more attention to the other's reaction. He seemed interested to say the least at her little... project but she decided to keep it on the down low for now. Vague answers, that was the best she'd give til she was sure that he wouldn't rat them out. "It's a little connected to the work I used to do back home. There's... just something not right about the way they do things here."

[livebymysmile.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't know. I think I've only seen a ferret on the 'net once. I'll take your word for it, especially if most ermines are like you with the talking and the transforming and stuff." He shrugs, not really bothered by the question. It's not like anyone here can do anything about the past on his world. "Scythe's my specialty. Deathscythe's my partner so it's only common sense that I'd use a scythe don't you think? Be kinda weird to use a sword or something else."

He's interested about a lot of things, especially if they seem to be a little out of the norm. Like say, someone looking for random freaky stuff. Typically that meant there was a good story behind their actions after all. "Something not right about what, exactly? You're going to have to be more specific and how does this fit in with the work you did back on your world anyway?" He leaned over, looking at her curiously. "Just what is it that you do?"

[xnotarunt.livejournal.com]

Raseth perks an eyebrow as Duo speaks, his blinks becoming an indication of his own curiosity. At the mention of scythes and Deathscythe and such, he pads close with his tail waving. His ears remain trained on the other's words. "You're a shinigami too?!" he suddenly blurted out.

This declaration suddenly causes Shin to get up and pick up the ermine and clap a hand over his mouth. Ah well, so much for keeping things on the down low. Muffled protests from her partner aside, she throws a nervous grin Duo's way before sitting back down and letting the rodent down. "Guess that should answer your question about what I used to do back home."