aterat | Books you say?

Entry tags:

Books you say?

Who; Yuki & open!
What; Books!
Where; Mage Tower
When; Yes
Warnings; None

Yuki had heard about a strange tower in the North. And what was even more fascinating was that many thought it was a wizard's tower and that it held so many books. Well once he caught wind of that, he had to go off and find out this thing for himself. After all, he did have a promise to keep regarding research.

So he packed himself a few things in his backpack including pens and paper and headed out, following the directions he was given. It took him awhile but he found his way, seeing people pass by him talking about the tower and the books to be found there. He listened carefully and knew he was on the right track.

After awhile he found himself looking up at the Tower itself and nodded. If this place was half as great as the people he'd passed on the road, this would be a great place to be and go. Cautiously Yuki headed up to the great door and poked his grey head around inside, looking things up and down. But soon he smiled and walked in, with his eyes blinking repeatedly at the endless rows and twists and turns of books here there and everywhere.

"Is anyone here?" This was asked in his usual quiet tone, which was more hushed because library.

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Jacob hadn't intended to follow Yuki that day. He was at the shop, like he was nearly every day, when he spotted Yuki walking down the street. His eyes followed Yuki for a minute or two before he called out to Gary. "I'm taking lunch. Be back in an hour."

It took a bit of jogging for Jacob to catch up but it wasn't long before he found Yuki disappearing into the strange Tower.

He slipped in after Yuki, his hands shoving into his pockets as he walked up behind his friend. He was still a little worried about the other boy and he couldn't stop himself. It was strange but he was done fighting it. He didn't want to keep himself locked up in his room like he did in New York and Seattle.

"Who are you talking too?" Jacob whispered from behind Yuki, his mouth a little too close to his friends ear.

He had the feeling on the way to the tower that he was being followed, but Yuki had been too caught up in hearing about this place. He hadn't been able to see anyone out of the corner of his eye either so he just wanted to make sure that he wasn't going to get hurt either.

So as he had stopped and asked his question, suddenly Jacob's voice and the warm breath on his neck had him practically jump out of his skin. "Where did you come from!?"

And then he hushed down as he realized where he was as his heart rate tried to slow itself down. Words jumbled in his head to try and ask more questions but in the end his hand went over his heart as his eyes locked with Jacob's.

Big mistake.

Jacob grinned and pointed towards the door behind them. "I came through the door." His voice was light and amused but not quiet. It echoed a bit and Jacob felt sheepish and awkward as the sounded faded. "Oh." He had lowered his voice to a whisper that didn't echo or break the tranquility of the library.

"Sorry if I surprised you." One of the things that Jacob had gotten good at was walking silently. It was what happened when one lived with immortals who could ear and track your movements. Jacob never surprised any of his family but he tried to be respectful to their senses.

"I just-" As their eyes met, he paused and redirected his sentence. "I saw you walking by and you looked focused. I was curious, so I followed you." It felt like a normal answer but it was awkward saying it out loud.

A new source of books? Of course someone was here. Of course it wasn't that surprising that people might not notice him at first. Which was normal, given the guy had found a few bookshelves that didn't quite reach the ceiling, had selected a few books, and had climbed his way up top to stretch out and read.

Some days he just needed to be high.

But the voice called out and he chuckled, calling back.

"Yes. It is I. The ghost of titles improperly returned. And you have late fees!"

He makes sure to call out in a vaguely spooky voice. Let him have his fun.

He was about to say something but then Yuki flushed a little guiltily because he obviously hadn't been paying that close attention to have missed something like footsteps.

Well there was an apology and Yuki thought to apologize back but Jacob was staring at him now.

Oh

Half of his brain wanted to protest at being followed. But the words just melted away in his mind as those eyes had a laser sort of focus on him. And he was about to say it was okay (Wait. It was okay? WHAT?) when he heard a strange voice and for some reason Yuki took a step closer to Jacob without meaning to.

Really.

"What? What late fees? I haven't even borrowed any..." And then Yuki's voice trailed off, realizing he was in a library so he hushed his tone.

Jacob knew that voice. He had heard it enough times that he didn't have to see the source but that didn't stop him from looking towards Nida's perch after he'd spoken.

His chin rose and he looked over Yuki's head to meet Nida's gaze.

"Some ghost, aren't you supposed to be quiet in libraries?" He responded back before feeling Yuki's proximity as he took a step towards him. Jacob wasn't sure what to make of that, so he just stayed where he was standing.

It was easy to be awkward and uncertain but Jacob was trying to do a better job at hiding how he felt.

"Ghosts don't follow the rules, Jacob. You're three months overdue."

Yep, still spooky voice as he flips through the book. But he's smiling to himself. Not like there is anyone other than the three of them here. He'll shut up in a moment. For now, he's staying hidden.

But it's interesting, to hear Jacob with someone else.

Grey eyes could only look around. By Jacob's tone, it sounded like he knew who this person was and it wasn't a ghost or whatever. And if it wasn't, whoever this person was reminded him of Shigure. Looking back at his companion, he somehow wasn't offended that the other had looked over his head but then what was he doing coming towards him?

Was Jacob being protective?

But his thoughts quickly changed as the boy was openly called out. So he looked up at the one with him and spoke quietly. "You know who that is?"

Jacob looked down at Yuki and nodded his head. His mouth tugged into a grin and any previous awkward notions slipped from his mind.

It was easier to focus on the here and now, or so Jacob believed.

"I have a pretty good guess. Do you think we should just ignore him?" He was definitely speaking loud enough for Nida to hear him though he made sure not to raise his voice too loud.

They were still in a library.

Ignore him. How horribly rude. Nida laughs and rolls from his stacks, landing lightly on his feet and coming out from behind one to look at Jacob and Yuki.

"Just for that, Jacob, I'm going to kick your ass later," he grins at Jacob before moving to Yuki and bowing.

"My name is Nida Nomura. I kick his ass regularly."

Inwardly Yuki cringed because Jacob was addressing his question out loud, but didn't know what to do or say until he heard footsteps because this time he was paying attention.

Well the 'ghost' didn't look like one anymore but he did have dark hair like Shigure and the same color of eyes. But he had to silently admit he was impressed that the man bowed to him. Was that his custom back home too?

Yuki returned the bowing gesture in kind immediately before he opened his mouth though his mind was running. "I'm Yuki Sohma, it's nice to meet you." And it was still kind of weird to reverse the order of the names at times. But then the words sank in and as he straightened up, he looked back at Jacob. "You two train together?"

Edited 2020-12-18 02:54 (UTC)

Jacob took a small step back, putting a polite distance between him and Yuki while awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "Do you have to make that sound so weird?" He addressed his question to Nida before dropping his gaze to Yuki. "Nida has been teaching me how to fight with staves."

He had learned to fight before he arrived in the city and he wasn't horrible at it, at least.... not by human standards, but he needed to practice. He might not be able to kill anything but he wanted enough training to get away if he was attacked again.

"I'm not very good at it."

"Wow, if you call them staves you're going to break my heart," Nida pouts at Jacob. "It's bo staffs and it's the first course of polearm training. I'm going to get a partisan into your hands sooner or later, Jacob. You're going to get better. My students don't let me down."

He was resolved on that.

But now he turned his attention back to Yuki and smiled for the man. Bright. Charming. Everything that Nida did when he was trying to get on someone's good side from the word go. He does it less these days, but he does it when he needs to know more.

"I'm also a member of the guard, so I'm pretty used to putting my training to use. Helped take down the demon-bear."

"Staves?" Yuki questioned, but turned his attention back to Nida when he spoke. It then turned back to Jacob when Nida called him his student, and then went back again.

That smile reminded him more of Shigure then. It seemed almost polished and practiced and was able to be produced in a moment just like the Dog seemed to be able to do. And for a moment he stood and looked at the man as he mentioned the thing that had taken his friend's lives.

But as he thought, maybe they were already gone when it finally appeared to the people who took it down. Obviously this man was one of that team. So there was a slight bow to the guardsman.

"Thank you."

Jacob stood back with his hands raised to either side of his head. He didn't mean to insult Nida but he couldn't help but think of staves and bo staff's as the same thing. Maybe it was his ignorance but he'd also call it a fancy stick... so maybe he'll keep that opinion to himself.

"Yeah. I told you I wasn't going to die again." Jake stated casually though the topic itself made him uncomfortable. "Nida is helping with that." He was also doing a few other things but he wasn't going to get into the details of his current routine. It was TMI.

"Anyway, what are you here looking up Nida?" He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Maybe you can help Yuki look around." Jake was just following and had no real purpose except to be a fixture.

Not staves. Please don't call them staves. Nida will be sad if they are called staves. But he tries to smile the best he can. The question has been asked so he answers.

"You're welcome. And I suppose I can try helping him look around. Mostly I'm looking for... Well, answers."

How to not leave here. Or, perhaps, how to leave to a specific place, that wasn't his world. It didn't need him. But he needed... Something else.

"Granted the sorts of magic I would seek aren't the sorts I can use, so life goes on."

Inwardly Yuki cringed to hear Jacob say what he did about dying. It wasn't something he wanted to continue to think about. So the silver head nodded, at least Jacob was taking steps in a sense to try and make sure the event didn't repeat. And who knew how many times someone could come back.

He didn't want to think about that either.

So he looked at Nida when the offer of help came in and was admittedly curious as to what answers. But the last part intrigued him so he directed his question at the unfamiliar man.

"You can use magic?"

All Yuki could ever do was transform into a rat. But wielding magic? He'd seen others do it and just couldn't understand it. He wondered too if it could be taught.

Nida's reply piqued Jacob's curiosity. "What answers?" He asked before looking back over to Yuki. Was Yuki also looking for answers? What was he doing here or looking for?

It wasn't a question he wanted to ask himself right now.

He cleared his throat and shook his head. "That is. Why don't we help each other look? I have to get back to work soon but I can lend a hand... or two." He held up his palms with a small cute grin.

"Yep. It's a limited selection of spells, but I'm definitely capable," Nida confirms for Yuki. "Maybe I'll show you some time. And in exchange we can see if there is magic lingering in you."

Like he really needed to do with Jacob, but that wasn't something he was going to force the guy into.

"I can help you two look for things if you want. Me, I'm looking for ways to travel from this world into a world that isn't my own."

The silver head went to Jacob when he asked about the answers that Nida was looking for. And then he nodded at the offer of help, which was adorable but he couldn't say so and had to keep the smile off of his face.

Turning to Nida he did let something of a smile show. "You can sense something like that?" Since the curse was broken he didn't figure that the man would be able to pick up on it. Not that he'd tried to run into any females out of old habit and not that it was his style anyway, but he definitely didn't feel the same way that he used to.

But the last part had him confused and he mentally pushed away the image of holding Jacob's wrist. "Is something like that even possible?"

Jacob tried to keep his mannerism's relaxed but there was a hiccup to his offer to help. "I'm not actually looking for anything." He had tried to think of something but his mind was blank.

"I followed Yuki." He nearly flushed at his confession but quickly moved on. "But since I am here, I am at your disposal. Either looking for magic or whatever it is you're interested in Yuki."

He looked down at his friend and flashed a small awkward smile. He felt like Nida would read into his actions and he honestly didn't want to hear it.

"Siren, the spirit bonded to me, she can sense magic. A gift she affords me as well," Nida explains to Yuki, before smiling to Jacob.

Seemed maybe Jacob had made another friend. And at the look on his face, maybe more. Nida was proud. So very proud. But calling it out in front of Yuki? Definitely not the right way to handle this. So instead he focused on Yuki's question.

"I don't know. But I don't want this world taking me away from Ignis, so I'll fight to the end to be at his side," he admitted. There's an adamant passion in his voice, like he refused to let fate stop him this time. Because it really was a 'this time'.

"But first, what are you two looking for?"

"I'm here to look at books on gardening." Yuki replied easily enough. He'd promised Lauri-Ell that he would help her research as to what flora and fauna could grow at what time of the year. Plus there were some kids with a garden but it hadn't looked so healthy. If it produced unhealthy food they could get sick, but he had no idea if they had any fertilizer such as he was used to. Worse come to worse he'd have to do it the old fashioned way but he was hoping to avoid it.

Jacob's smile was hard not to smile back to, but realized what it could look like in front of his friend. So Yuki turned his attention back to Nida when he mentioned Siren, whoever she was other than some magical person.

But something in the man's impassioned words stirred something in the silver haired man. Whoever this Ignis was, they were really important to him. "So..you're looking for a way to stay here with him? Or go home with him?" He looked back at Jacob just for a moment, thinking about how he'd felt when he'd died.

Jacob exhaled when it seemed like Nida wasn't going to instantly start teasing him. That was good... at least for now. He was sure that he'd get an ear full at their next training session.

He wasn't sure what he thought of Yuki. Only that the young man had been kind to him and worried about him. It was awkward. Jacob really didn't like it when people worried about him but it was a good sign. It made him happy, uncomfortable... but happy. It meant that they could become friends; which wasn't really a skill that Jacob exceled at. He kept most people at an arms length away but things were different here and he wanted to at least try.

He turned to Nida and nodded. "I get it. He's lucky to have you." He knew a lot of people that would do something similar, as it was, Jacob didn't know what he wanted. He didn't really care where he was and while he missed his family, he felt like it was better like this. Life was less awkward and there wasn't a chance of him putting any of them in danger.

"Let's look for both. We can split up. Look for magic and gardening." The two most unrelated topics ever.

Jacob gets it. And Nida smiles before explaining it to Yuki.

"There isn't much for me to go home to, so I want to go home with him."

He wants to stand by Ignis through thick and thin. He wants to be bound to the other.

"Halcyn suggests that I might be able to stay here if I want, but I don't trust her or this place."

A statement of fact, and he knows better than to trust powers in these places.

"ANy specific sorta gardening? And do you want something too, Jacob?"

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Switching as per discussion!

<3

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