duologs | [OPEN] Library Shenanigans + May Catch-All

[ meryl's been having a rough time since she arrived here. don't get her wrong, she's met some great people and discovered some wonderful things — the world itself isn't the problem. it's everything she came here with on her mind, and everything she's been trying to accomplish despite all that.

vash is here. he's okay. that's a godsend, but her memories of what was happening to him prior still dance in her mind at night, when she's trying to sleep. that, in addition to the loss of roberto, right in front of her eyes (and her fault, no less), has made it significantly difficult to sleep. she's busied herself with investigating what she can of the worlds, getting her bearings straight, and taking up a new goal of investigating and caring for flora as well — out of a genuine love and curiosity, but as well as the idea that this could help out back in no man's land, should they make it back there. ]

I; studying flora.

[ so, first of all, meryl can be found at various times of the day, throughout the month, doing research on flora. in the beginning, it's mostly just looking up how to care for them in general, as she'd like to start growing her own and seeing how they work in person. after she feels she has an understanding of that, she'll move on to more specifics: species and their environments they grow best in, ones that need more or less water than usual, some that need more or less sun, etc. this in particular piques her interest, considering her desert home, and she piles a couple books worth of plants that can grow in arid regions.

she's writing notes as she does this, making little diagrams of things she'll want to be able to visualize easily later. her pocket-sized notebook sits to the side of whatever book she's reading, and her pencil moves without much thought, writing down whatever comes to mind and keeping it generally quite neat, as far as notes go — she has sections for things, flips back and forth between pages to put things in their proper spots. this isn't like interviewing a person. she can take her time and make sure that things are legible for later.

anyone who spots her at these sorts of times will notice a small stack of books, all flora related, around her, as she sits at a table with her little notebook and concentrates. she'll... yawn, every once in a while, but other than that, she's mostly just Studying. ]

II; a little help from dodo.

[ it's no secret that meryl is short. this provides obstacles when it comes to reaching the higher levels of the bookshelves, and this particular instance sees her spotting a book about cacti up high, after having had them mentioned in another book about desert plants. hm.

dodo helps her out, bringing a rolling ladder over to her, and (still not totally used to this place), she scratches at the back of her neck, sheepishly. ] Uh, thanks...

[ she climbs up just fine, reaches the book, and begins climbing back down. what's unfortunate, however, is her lack of sleep, and stepping back down proves to be a difficult endeavor for her, as she slips backward and off the ladder. ]

Ah—!

[ if you're nearby, maybe you can try to catch her. dodo, in the meanwhile, is going to attempt to force a beanbag-like pillowy chair under her to at least cushion the fall, if no help arrives. ]

III; out of energy.

[ meryl has run out of steam, and this likely happens every once in a while when she lets her guard down to the comfort and tiredness she's feeling.

she's smart enough to sit at a table most of the time — less comfortable and easy to fall asleep on — but when she tries to get herself comfortable on a beanbag-like chair, she'll fall asleep more quickly than she'd ever like to admit.

a; so, today, you might find her dozing, her body practically sucked into the pillowy chair due to her smallness, and a few books (some open, some closed) sitting atop her. her hands fallen off the side, her notebook on the ground next to her.

just. zzzzz.

b; but, there might be times when the bad dreams kick in, and so onlookers might notice her brows furrowing, nose scrunching, like something's wrong. if you decide to leave her be and wait long enough, she'll wake up with a sharp inhale through her nose, and a groan. ]

IV; wildcard

[ anything else you'd like to do in the library with her? feel free to hit me up about it! ]

[ there are only so many things available in no man's land. so being in a bakery here with a plethora of cakes and donuts and breads to choose from, she can't help but be a little indecisive.

she's peering over everything in the glass case, mostly attracted to the colorful and over-the-top ones out of curiosity alone, and if someone comes up near her, she'll look up at them and ask. ]

Sorry to bother you, but... do you have any recommendations on what to get?

[ she's a little overwhelmed, even with a smaller selection than a bigger store might have.

she's looking to buy for herself, and for vash — as thanks for introducing her to the place. ]

[The sight of Meryl, oblivious to the world around her as she dozes on the chair, tugs at Roland's lips when he comes across her by pure chance. Knowing how animated she can be, there's a certain charm to seeing her this way. Mindful of her rest, he takes measured steps to her side, where he crouches down to pick up the fallen notebook, and frowns upon straightening.

Her face has changed. Is she having a nightmare?

As if on cue, she awakens before he can think to do anything. Roland's hand hovers over her nearest shoulder, close but not terribly so as he softens his voice:]

You're all right, Meryl. It was a dream.

[ she's a bit groggy from the nap, so it takes her a second or two to focus on him. 'you're all right.' 'it was a dream.' ] H-Huh...?

[ she blinks her eyes a few times, a hand moving to wipe at one despite there being a lack of tears — like she's still feeling whatever happened in that dream is reality, for a second longer.

and then she notices him there next to her, and jumps a little from the shock. ]

R-Roland! [ her voice pitches higher, a clear sign of her awkwardness in the moment. ] Wh-What are you doing here?

[ what do you think, meryl. ]

[To watch her sleep.

. . . In which she was clearly deep. Whatever she experienced there couldn't have been pleasant. His eyes follow her hand as it wipes at hers, and he retracts his own hand when she jumps.]

I was perusing some books here at the library. It appears you were doing the same before you dozed off.

[He holds the notebook out for her to take.]

I believe this is yours.

[ she looks at the notebook he holds out to her, and then appears a tad embarrassed to have apparently dropped it. ]

Y-Yeah, it is. Thanks. [ she takes it, holding it against her, and mumbles to herself: ] How long was I out for...? [ a soft groan, as she shifts herself in the chair and notices all the books she has laying on herself. ugh. ]

Sorry, you probably want to get back to that then. [ his perusing. ] Thanks for waking me up.

[ at least, she assumes he did, with the way she woke up with him so close and talking to her. ]

[ Under most other circumstances, it would be rare to ever find Juniper in a place like a library. At least, for any other reason than "studying monster tomes and fantasizing about battling them" but her other self here seems to be a student - and she's never gotten the chance to go to a real school, so she's going to do her best!

Even if her best still means she's struggling to get the hang of this!

She has some "homework" to work on today, and she strides into the library at Dodo with purpose, a textbook or two in her arms... but mostly, a bountiful stack of snacks precariously arranged atop said textbooks. It's important to have snacks while studying to keep your focus, right!? And maybe if she finds someone who's studying properly, their energy will encourage her to do her best, too... Even though she really wants to be outside playing or doing literally anything else...

Ahh, no, Juniper! You have to try your best at school here so your fake parents don't get upset at Uncle Declan!

With renewed purpose she looks about and - that's when she spots Miss Meryl, buried in a stack of books and furiously taking notes. Perfect, that's exactly the vibe that she hopes to emulate. She approaches, but before she can take a seat and settle in, she can't help but notice the botanical illustrations on the books - and in particular one that she recognizes. ]

Oh... That's coneflower!

[V hasn’t been here long enough to have a “haunt” yet, but it’s a foregone conclusion that the library will be one of his favorites. He’s always been studious, always been eager to get lost in the pages of a book — whether for research or pleasure, there’s something about the quietude of the place, able to draw oneself inward, that appeals to him. After all, Vergil was never really a social man. Those hard edges are now softened a little with V, but the core remains the same, and there are times when he simply seeks solitude beyond the bustle within the halls of Dodo, or the rat race of the city outside.

So, what books are there to seek today? He rounds the corner to a bookshelf that he’s practically claimed for his own, tomes of poetry—archaic and modern—lined up like little soldiers on the shelving. V already has an idea of which he wants to read, and he plucks it away from its home, then moves to find a place to sit.

Along the way, he finds a blob.

Sorry, no, he finds a young woman swallowed up in a pillowy chair, so much that she might as well just be one with the shapeless blob; though V can differentiate her enveloped form by a wayward limb and a book splayed atop her body.]

Now, why sleep in a bed when you have a library…

[He murmurs, not intending to speak loudly enough to awaken her. But this sure is the second time he’s found someone dozing in here.

Should he wake her? His eyes glide about, from her book to the notebook lying on the floor. Instead, V gives into his snooping curiosity, bending down to pick up the notebook and… flips to a random page to see what she’s been scribbling away at.

Nosy, nosy. What’s in here?]

Edited 2023-05-16 18:05 (UTC)

[ Surprising to no one, Declan loves the library. He’s in there a lot, and perhaps he and Meryl have crossed paths before now – he did offer to help her in her research after all – but on this particular night he can’t help but notice her dozing in the corner. He smiles to himself a little, being no stranger to falling asleep in the midst of some project or other. Waking up like that is always a bit disorienting. More often than not, he comes to with parchment stuck to his face and a whole new slew of ink stains on his cheek to join the grease stains that are often already there.

He thinks, perhaps, he should spare her that indignity and get her some soothing tea and get her off to bed properly. (While he probably inevitably continues to stay up and read. He’s real big on “do as I say, not as I do.”)

In the brief time it takes him to duck off to the kitchen and come back to the library, a pair of mugs of tea in hand, it seems Meryl has slipped into a nightmare. He’s no stranger to that, either. Setting the tea down on a nearby table, he crouches to lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. ]

Meryl? Come on, wake up now. You’re dreaming.

[Although he didn't look, she's evidently been collecting data of some sort. Is it perhaps related to the rain . . . ?

He shakes his head. Reading can come later.]

I merely picked up what you'd dropped. By the time I was close enough, you were already awake . . .

[He trails off, vacillating as to how he should pose the question on his mind.]

[Conveniently? This is the same bakery where Desumi works, at least part-time! She beams at the question, clapping her hands together.]

I've tried a little bit of everything, so I'm happy to give recommendations! What kind of flavors do you like?

I'm still getting used to eating.

[ She says. Point-blank. Head tilted. But-- ]

But I believe if you give me a minute, I can check their most popular items?

[PATHETIC.

Fukawa stands over her new government-assigned roommate with a pinched expression. Her mouth is less a line and more a rumpled twist tie, her glare emitting from slits so thin only a scalpel could have cut them.

This is the library. A sacred place. Which Meryl is now desecrating with her lack of consciousness and infernal mouth breathing.

Unwilling to put her hands on her and reluctant to break the peace with a ruckus, Fukawa bends to fetch the abandoned pen from Meryl's notebook. Then she presses it into her cheek. Prodding. Jostling that sleepy head.]

W-wake up!

[ meryl is deep in her studies when juni approaches, doesn't much notice her at all until she's speaking up nearby, jumping a little at the sudden awakening from her little study trance. ]

H-Huh? [ she looks up at her properly, taking in who she is and... what their last interaction was. (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) her voice heightens in pitch: ] O-Oh, hey, Juni. [ she's still so embarrassed about before, and she's going to need to apologize while she has her here, but first, her attention turns back to the book at her comment, looking down at the illustration and the text next to it. she hadn't gotten the chance to read that bit yet. ]

Whoa, you're right — it says coneflower right here. You know a lot about flora then?

[ v will be able to find a plethora of information about flowers, and it'll be written from the perspective of someone who's rarely even touched them. of course, he knows that fact about her already, so it shouldn't be surprising.

there'll be notes on what they need to survive, and in particular notes on flowers that need more or less of such things — cacti needing less water, for example. she has an entire page dedicated to those, actually, as she's since learned that they can survive in the desert. clearly this world's desert differs, as it must get rain, while hers doesn't, but... she finds merit in looking into them.

in addition, there are more than a few diagrams of flowers she's drawn herself (complete with naming their parts and little arrows), both from using ones from books as references, as well as using the flowers she's received. there's even a picture of the flower crown he gave her! the art is by no means good, but it's done with care clearly put into it, as she's doing her best with all of this. eraser marks here and there, softly drawn lines as if she wants to get it Right...

aside from that, if he flips closer to the beginning of the notebook, it'll have basic notes on the worlds here, from when she first arrived, as well as about rain, thanks to roland's generosity in showing it to her.

his presence so close to her is enough to stir her, though, as she groans softly from her blobby chair, moving a hand up to rub at her eyes.

give her a second to actually come to. she hasn't slept well and her body was trying yet again to get her deep into it. ]

[ meryl stirs at that, slowly, grunting softly at the sudden unwanted (or maybe wanted) awakening, as her eyes squeeze shut for a second or two. she's still half in it, and half out of it, breathing out her nose, long and sigh-like, before breathing in again a little sharper. softly, now: ] I-I'm sorry, I—

[ is that directed at him, or at the dream? who knows. maybe the fact that she's clearly still in something should make it known for whom that sorry was for.

something clicks in her a second later, as her eyes open and declan comes into view, and after a second of dazed peering at him, she jolts the rest of the way awake. ]

D-Declan?! I-I was...? [ calming down in that next moment, shoulders slumping. ] Right, yeah, of course I was...

[ meryl's too tired to even pick up on some sort of trailing off, and instead just focuses on what he said. ]

Oh, I was? [ a beat. ] Well — thanks anyway. [ for picking up her notebook, at least. ] Hey, uh — what time is it?

[ okay yeah she wants to know how long she was out... ]

[ oh!!! well, that's super helpful, and meryl is caught up in a bit of awe at the first part of what she says. ]

Really? Everything? [ she can't imagine having access to that much food so easily, but she is here now, so —

at her question, she seems mildly stumped. ] Actually... I'm not too sure. It looks like there are a lot more here than what we had back where I'm from.

It's . . .

[He reads off the time, watching her as he does. If she was dreaming, she's had to have been here for a while—or so he guesses. Perhaps she was just tired.]

... You're what?

[ what does that even mean. how can you get used to eating. is she from a world even more devoid of life's comforts than no man's land?? meryl is confused for a second, and then she's trying to go along with the next part. ]

Uh, sure, that'd be really helpful.

[ what's she gonna do..... ]

[ There's no sign of discomfort in her demeanor at all, and she certainly doesn't feel like Meryl needs to apologize! She's just happy to run into her new friend again. She met so many people in her first days here that she'd began to worry she would start forgetting them...

Ah, but Juniper is quick to shake her head. ]

Well, I wouldn't say a lot, really... I definitely cannot keep all of the names and meanings and languages and stuff like what everyone's been talking about lately straight in my head, but... When it comes to the easier names and their uses, I do okay!

[ Is this seat taken? No? She's just inviting herself to sit next to Meryl. Or maybe like, another seat away, depending on whether there's table space... ]

One of my moms would send me out to the woods to forage a lot, so I learned that way!

[Oh. As he flips through the pages, he realizes that he shouldn't be surprised, but the array of notes and detailed information still makes his brows raise. He knows that her world is a desert one, given their last conversation, and that she attributed the idea of "hope" to a flower — but to see this research so painstakingly laid out before him only drives that point home. Just how desperate is her situation back on her planet?

Another page, another. The drawings are relatively impressive in their preciseness, too, even if it lacks artistic flair. He even spots the flower crown he presented her days earlier, which makes him smile, despite himself.

When she stirs, though, V just closes the notebook with a snap!]

Someone’s been hard at work. Maybe a little too hard at work. Dropping all your notes for random strangers to pick up on a whim…

[Hi, wake up!]

[ He won’t remark on her half-asleep ramblings one way or another. The only thing more disorienting than falling asleep in the library is perhaps falling asleep in the library only to be woken up by a nightmare.

He gives her a small, sympathetic smile, reaching over to grab one of the mugs of tea and offering it to her. ]

Happens to the best of us. Are you alright?

Everything!

[Glutton--

Anyway, that's a pretty fair sort of situation to be in, she thinks. Desumi taps her lower lip with a finger for a moment, contemplative.]

Well, let's see... let's start with how sweet you'd like for it to be! We have some stuff that's a bit closer to tart, or with hints of bitter, or you can just go all in on the sugar.

[ FUKAWA PLEASE... it's not like she meant to fall asleep! why must she suffer like this!

meryl groans, her head being jostled to the side from the prodding, and practically jolts awake when she's told to wake up, jumping a little and eyes going wide, as some of the books on her chest fall off onto the floor to the sides of the chair. ]

Wh-What? What is it? What happened?!

[ NICE... ]

[OPEN] Library Shenanigans + May Catch-All

LIBRARY

BAKERY

III b

no subject

no subject

no subject

i

iii a

IIIb

no subject

no subject

no subject

III-a

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject