melodiesoflife | Slices of Life before the Looping...

Characters: Vincent Valentine, Open, one section locked (will be specified).
Where: Library, House A02
When: Septemper 16-18th-ish
Summary: Vincent is adapting to his new part-time job in the library. Come bother him, or be scared by his sudden appearance in the quiet. Also another session of Story-time, with Ophelia inviting some others now...
Warning: Potentially grumpy gunslingers?

Working in the Library

It wasn't hard work, so far. Organizing books and putting them away, and occasionally answering a question. Vincent found he kind of enjoyed the routine of it, as it required enough of his focus to not be mind-numbing, but not so much that it was taxing or a strain. It was almost zen, in terms of the calm he found. His height was an advantage in moving things around on the taller shelves, too.

He'd adapted well, aside from at least one complication so far. The flutter of wings coming around a corner as he was re-shelving, and a small voice "Excuse me kupo I was wondering if you could EEEEEEKUPO!!!" The younger moogle who'd come around the corner, obviously had gotten a look at him now. Dressed in black, even with his long-hair pulled back in a loose tail, Vincent's silhouette was still striking and creepy. His gauntlet at home( even if he felt the loss) so that his entire left arm was in black due to a glove over the ruined-arm, didn't help.

The poor little moogle, bearing a bag and a set of glasses and a bow around her pompom was shaking where she fluttered. Vincent sighed, and was careful to move slowly and as he looked at her. "What were you looking for?" Summoning up her courage, the moogle stuttered noiselessly before managing to get out her question. "His..hishistorical biographies of the first researchers kupo!" Wringing her hands, holding up her bag as if it were a shield almost.

"Down the hall past 3 stacks to non-fiction and biographies, it's next to the door."

The moogle bobbed a quick thanks and bow, and was off fast.

This type of encounter was becoming disturbingly commonplace.

Story time with guests

Ophelia was hoping Vincent wouldn't be too mad. She'd made sure to get his promise to resume his reading to her, and she'd grabbed her book about sea-legends and folk-stories. She'd also sent letters to Mogdelina and Annie, inviting them along. (Provided they didn't tease or make fun of Vincent, and respected his privacy by not sharing with their heroes.) Yuffie of course, was also informed.

The little moogle was humming happily to herself as she made tea, waiting for Vincent to get home from his part-time job, as she'd set things up so far. Making it easy for him, as she considered the debt paid and repaid. Not that she'd let him know it, just yet.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Moogles were as varied as people, Vincent had noticed.

"Perhaps, but life isn't based on what should or shouldn't be." Taking a moment to sort out some of the books that had gotten mis-shelved out of order, before he finished his stack.

There might've been a hint of amusement in the raised eyebrow as he turned to his fellow employee. "Would 'Miss Sheena' earn me the same scolding?" Dry humor, but Vincent had his moments.

So had Sheena; but really, to judge solely on looks and not actions? That was something that already existed on her world. Something that she and her friends fought against, hoping that one day it would no longer exist.

Yes, she was an idealist, but there really wasn't anything wrong with that, was there?

"Is that so?" she asked, piercing him with a look. "Then what is it based on?" She had her own answer for that, but wanted to hear his answer first.

Rising up from where she was shelving her own books--not-so-ironically on a lower shelf--she raised an eyebrow right back at him, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

"What do you think?"

Answer: yes.

"I think the world is simply what it is, people are complicated, and that battles must be chosen carefully." Same dry tone as ever. His task was done, but Vincent wasn't so eager just yet to head off for more books to put away. Not when it was clear whoever had done this before had not been paying attention.

Having to move books out, and then re-put them in place, was annoying. Having to remove a few that were in the completely wrong section was frustrating, as it added to their work. Honestly, what had been going on at the Library before?

"I won't argue with that," she said with a chuckle. "Which means people should be allowed to live the way they want without fear of having to succumb to another's whims, or be a sacrifice." And that was her answer. "People are different and complicated, yes, but those things shouldn't matter, should they?"

He'd come to find out that Sheena really wasn't the careful type when it came to battles; if someone was in trouble, she went in head-first without thinking. Of course, it got her in trouble a lot, but she didn't care.

Turning back to her shelf, she let out a derisive sound and began handing up books over her shoulder. He wasn't going to have to go far to find books to re-shelve. They were all in her section. Good thing Raine wasn't here, there'd be lectures for years about that.

"That's why life isn't built on should or should not, Miss Sheena." Definitely a note of dry-amusement in his eyes and tone, as he took his stack of misplaced books, adding hers to the pile easily. "Because people shape it the way they want it to."

She gave him a wry look. "And here I thought you had forgotten," she said in a matching tone before switching to one clearly full of laughter. "You don't have to be so formal, Vincent." She obviously wasn't. "I don't mind."

Shaking her head, she continued the other part of their conversation. "Worlds are shaped by people wondering what they should and shouldn't do, though. Should or shouldn't they explore? Should or shouldn't they build a city?" She sighed. "I guess what I'm saying is, everything is based on choice, and some people are never given one. Or a chance."

"I know." Vincent responded, although whether to her statements or to the comment about his being formal it wasn't clear. In his mind it was simply a matter of manners on his account. She might not mind, but he did.

"And when did I give you the impression that I disagree?" Still with that dry-amusement in his voice. Moving away to put the pile of books down at the end of the shelves, so they'd know they were out of place, before returning to grab more if she needed him to.

Sheena waited for the rest of the statement, but when it didn't come, she gave him a look and rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I'd say 'which one' but I just told you the thing about my name a few minutes ago," she said with a chuckle. She wasn't going to press it, but she'd still remind him occasionally until he did it without her reminding him.

Sitting back on her heels, she gave him an incredulous look. "When you said life isn't based on what should or shouldn't be," she said. "Or did I misunderstand?" There was nothing harsh in her tone, just confusion, as she tried to piece things together.

Vincent stood by casually, blinking crimson eyes at her confusion. "I can make a statement about things without it being a form of agreement or disagreement. Life isn't based on what should or shouldn't be. It does come down to choice. Not everyone is given one." None of which he disagreed with.

Now he was kind of confused.

"Perhaps another topic should be discussed." Awkward, but that he was willing to have a conversation at all was a rarity.

For a moment she regarded him closely before shaking her head at her own foolishness. She had such a hair trigger at times that she sometimes took a simple statement as a disagreement with her. "I'm sorry, Vincent," she told him as her cheeks started to turn pink. "I misunderstood what you were driving at."

Sighing again, she nodded. "Maybe." She looked at the book in her hands. "And I think I know what it should be." A somewhat safer topic? She hoped. "Who in the name of Martel was in charge of shelving these things before? This one," and she held it up to him, "doesn't even belong over here. I think it's on the other side of the building."

Yeah, she was still learning the layout and sections, but she had a cheat sheet, which she was currently digging in to her pocket for.

Vincent moved to crouch down by her, examining the section she had found the book in, and finding several others that were mis-shelved too. "Carelessness, most likely. But if we find more like this in different sections, it might be something more." Despite his height, he had little trouble crouching down or moving while doing so.

People making trouble or pranksters. Depending on what they found and where, like an important book on a subject relevant to the Heroes, if it was mis-shelved elsewhere... somewhere people would never look for it, THEN Vincent might entertain the idea of a conspiracy. Nevertheless, the thought was occurring to him anyways.

Slices of Life before the Looping...

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