Three Bells: [WRITTEN] - New Horizons in Lit Appreciation

[simplestgift]

They have everything Shakespeare ever wrote in the library.  Everything!  It's a fountain of gold.  I could spend days here.  I'd sleep here if they'd let me.  I don't think I've ever been happier.  And there's no theatre group here?  None?  Do people here not realize what they have?  What kind of a world is this?

In case anyone asks, I'll be in the library for the rest of my life.

[Or really just the rest of the day.   At some point he'll have to come up for air and grab something to eat at the 7th Heaven, where he'll be buried in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  It'll be dark before he goes home, carrying only a single book.]

Comments

[simplestgift]

My apologies, ma'am. [He bends down to pick up the book he knocked over.] It's a good book, then?

[memoryboxes]

Oh, yes! Just look at some of the creatures in it! It's really just fascinating—you see?

[She points to a fluffy little critter on the next page.]

This is a rabbit! Why, it almost looks like a mouse—and those ears! Goodness, they must get them caught on things all the time, with how long they are...

[simplestgift]

[He looks where she's pointing. It looks like a normal rabbit.]

Yes, those are common where I'm from. I think they manage pretty well, actually. At least I've never seen one catch its ears on anything.

1/2

[memoryboxes]

Oh! That's very good to hear, then!

Ah—now this is a pretty odd creature here!

[totes a butterfly]

[memoryboxes]

[She smiles fondly. Something about this creature does seem a little nostalgic. Like she should know it.]

For some reason... it seems very soothing, to look at. The colors on it really are something. Do you have these in your world, too?

[simplestgift]

[This is kind of cute.]

Yes. Those are butterflies. We sometimes get fields of them, in the right season. [The smile fades.] Do they not have butterflies in Luceti?

[memoryboxes]

[There's a thoughtful pause.]

I'm... not really sure. I arrived when winter just began, so perhaps they aren't out yet...

I did get to see an owl, though! They're really such intelligent creatures...

Oh, but fields. Fields! You must have quite a time, seeing that many of them!

[simplestgift]

It's really something. [A wistful smile.] But you saw an owl? What was it like?

[He's never been that interested before, but her sense of wonder is a little infectious and she's got him curious.]

[memoryboxes]

[Oooh, story time! 8D]

Well, I was weaving at my loom one night, when suddenly an owl came flying in out of no where! The poor thing wasn't very graceful—it hit the roof, actually. But it was so very strange; the little creature actually nodded and shook its head, as if it knew exactly what I was asking of him... He was a gorgeous owl, though. Snow white, with bright green eyes.

It's strange, normally I don't remember little encounters like those, but that one stayed very fresh in memory...

[simplestgift]

[He nods, then realizes how odd it is to be so caught up in a non-story like this one. But there he was, picturing the owl, snow white, with bright green eyes.]

What did you ask of him?

[memoryboxes]

I asked if he was all right, and he nodded to me—it was so strange, but he was completely calm, not at all like how a creature would react to a human staring at them! And when I asked if it were some sort of bird? It actually nodded to me!

Imagine that, a creature that understands human languages, but then to be able to answer my questions so easily... Bizarre, I know, but there was something about the way it locked its gaze with mine... It was such a wise sort of look.

[simplestgift]

[He remembers from somewhere that animals talk in Luceti.]

Ma'am? How long have you been here, again?

1/3

[memoryboxes]

...Hm... Let's see.

I...

[memoryboxes]

...

[memoryboxes]

I don't really remember, I suppose!

[simplestgift]

[But now he remembers her saying she'd been here since winter began. Is she confused? He's not really sure how to act or react at this point, so he simply watches her quietly, a little uncomfortable.]

[memoryboxes]

[Give her a minute, she's in some deep thought here.]

I suppose... ah... how many months are there...

[simplestgift]

Twelve months. Ma'am.

[memoryboxes]

[A soft sigh.]

Twelve. Right!

[She flips through a small notebook to her left, and proceeds to carefully write: 12 months all together]

I'm sorry, sometimes I tend to forget all the wrong sorts of things... Is there anything else about months I should know? ...What's the name of the month right now?

[simplestgift]

January, ma'am.

[He's still taking this in and trying not to look as uncomfortable as he feels. He feels some urge to either help her or make an excuse and leave. Anything besides stand awkwardly.]

Next month is February.

1/2

[memoryboxes]

[Scribbling that down now.]

Ah, thank you! That's very helpful...--

[memoryboxes]

Ah... is something wrong?

[You seem a little awkward and unsure.]

[simplestgift]

[Oh dear.]

No! Nothing at all. Is there anything else you need help with?

[Now he feels awful. The woman's not an idiot, just forgetful, perhaps. He's trying very hard not to look like he pities her, but he does, and he's making a genuine offer.]

[memoryboxes]

Oh, well... if you could, could you perhaps me the names of those months?

[A small blush crosses her face at the request, as she makes a thin timeline in her book for the information.]

That way I can always have them, in case I forget again.

[simplestgift]

[He gives her a smile--a real one--and focuses on the task at hand.]

Well, after February is March. You need me to spell any of these? Some of them aren't spelled the way they sound.