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[monolike]

I love it when new books show up in the library...it's not very often, but every once in a while there's a new book to look at. I found this really neat one, it was a fairy tale about a girl whose mother casts a spell on so she sleeps until the wars of her land are over.

And then she wakes up and she explores the new world, and she makes new friends and she finds her mother as an old, old woman and tells her all of her adventures. It's a little bittersweet at the end, but it's really good, if anybody would like to borrow it.

Does anybody have any legends or stories like that? People going to sleep and waking up new places, or traveling to new worlds? I'd like to hear 'em.

Comments

[monolike]

[Sorey just swings his legs to hop down from the crate he'd been perched upon, jogging over to Ben to fall into step beside him.

Peering over at him.

Studying his grouchy face carefully.]

[privateeyed]

Don't look at me like that.

[there's definitely more grouch than usual, but at least he kind of - winces at the tone of his voice because he really doesn't mean to take the extra grouch out on anyone]

Let's go find your stupid book and get this over with.

[monolike]

...okay, [Sorey agrees easily, willing to leave well enough alone as they walk to the library, linking his fingers back behind his neck. Malevolence all looks pretty much the same, but sometimes there's...shades. Or smells, or something. Something in the way it moves.

It's not hard to guess, anyway, not with Ben holing himself up in his quarters and hardly ever coming out.]

[privateeyed]

[Ben's a pretty big guy, at least height-wise, so it's pretty obvious even if he tries not to be, in the way he hunches his shoulders and tries to make himself as uninteresting as possible. Maybe he should wear hoodies more often so he can hide under the hood like the giant loser he is.

oh look the library and a NICE DISTRACTION] Where would all the fairy tale shit be?

[monolike]

Over here, towards the back. [Sorey almost- almost touches him, his fingers nearly brushing Ben's arm before he gestures and leads the way into the corner of the library.] Folktales and stuff go over here; mostly this shelf and this shelf, but some over here too. [Sorey points to a couple different bookcases.] What language would it be in, d'you think?

[privateeyed]

[Ben follows after (and doesn't notice), and pulls out his glasses so he can actually like, read the titles and stuff for once. At least, for all that he's pretending he doesn't care, he's a little invested in finding the story]

Uh - English, probably, for the family-friendly version. French for the original? Maybe? Think it's French.

[monolike]

I know about English, I've been looking into that one. I'll check this shelf first...? [Watches Ben a touch longer than is really necessary to confirm before turning off to search. Maybe a mystery is what he needs, something to get him back on more even footing. Something familiar. Sleuthing.]

[privateeyed]

Yeah, sure, I'll check this one. [why are you looking at him like that, dude. He gives Sorey a weird look before he rolls his eyes and heads over to the other shelf, leaning over to squint at the titles] Can't remember if it goes by any other names, so if it does and they're under that we're SOL.

[monolike]

What? Why not just check every book in the library? [HE SAYS]

[privateeyed]

It's cute that you think I have that much patience. [THIS GLOWERING FACE]

[monolike]

Ah, we won't have to! I've memorized most of these anyway, so I know if it's anywhere it has to be back here.

[privateeyed]

[MUTTERGRUMBLE] Whatever.

What's the interest in this type of story anway? Just 'cuz you read about one like it or whatever? Or there another reason?

[monolike]

[Sorey tip-taps his fingers against a couple book spines as he contemplates, his back to Ben while they search, before piping up with a light tone,] Kind of a personal interest, actually. I'm uh, I'm asleep back home.

[privateeyed]

[he pulls out what looks like a volume of various stories to flip through, but pauses to actually turn and look at Sorey]

—what.

Like - sleeping beauty asleep or is it something different? You can't just say that and not explain, dude.

[monolike]

I don't know if it's like sleeping beauty, actually! I don't know the story yet.

[At least the playful smile doesn't stick around for long; he has a feeling that won't go over with Ben very well right now.] I have to sleep for a while back home, to help purify the world. It's um, have I told you about malevolence? -to make a long story short, it's so people won't turn into monsters.

[privateeyed]

[he reaches up under his glasses to rub at the bridge of his nose]

You haven't told me shit, I don't think. I don't remember, I just know about the uh, Mikleo and all those guys. But like - okay, so you sleep, and people don't turn into monsters? That makes no sense.

[monolike]

It's a really long story; I'm not being secretive on purpose, I promise.

[privateeyed]

Dude, it's your business. If you wanna tell me a long-ass weird story, go ahead. If you don't - [a shrug] Ain't my business.

[does he want to know? Yes. Is he going to make Sorey tell him? Nah]

[monolike]

i[okay cool so we don't have to talk about it] Anyway, you can see why I'd be interested! I wanna know what happens, now.

[privateeyed]

[Ben will remember this when it comes to you asking him about his stuff you lil shit]

Uh, you wake up? Usually in stories like those something happens to make you wake up.

[monolike]

[HEY!!! He didn't know your openness was conditional!!!]

Okay, but what happened to make her wake up! Aren't you curious, if you don't remember?

[privateeyed]

I think a prince fell in love with her and kissed her? [...] Pretty sure, I dunno, when stories like that get into the romance stuff I sort of check out.

[monolike]

What? Ben, the romance is the best part.

I definitely gotta find this thing now. [Starts pawing through books DETERMINEDLY]

[privateeyed]

You're kidding me, right? It's boring as hell.

[Ben you're the only person who thinks romance is boring]

[monolike]

How is it boring? There's passion, and drama, and emotions flying everywhere! Romance is the best.