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Post by Andrew on Feb 8, 2008 7:51:11 GMT -5
*Andrew wandered about, looking for his brother. Eventually, he found him, with some surprise, in the library, poring over ancient tomes on Greek mythology.*
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Post by Tony on Feb 8, 2008 7:52:11 GMT -5
*Tony looked up at his brother and barely nodded, pulling on his lower lip distractedly as his eyes ran over the pages.*
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Post by Andrew on Feb 8, 2008 7:54:27 GMT -5
"...Tony? Is everything all right?" *asked Andrew hesitantly.* "You've been...I don't know." *He sighed, frustrated at this sudden change in his twin--or was it himself? Whatever it was, he couldn't wholly understand Tony anymore, and that frightened him. He faced his brother and forced him to meet his eyes.*
"What is it? Is it just that you were...dead? What happened to you?"
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Post by Tony on Feb 8, 2008 7:57:24 GMT -5
*Tony ran a hand through his hair.*
"It's...it was..." *he drew a deep breath, held it a moment, then let it out.* "Her." *He pointed at the page wherein the figure of a woman stood out in a carved relief on a stone wall.*
"Death."
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Post by Andrew on Feb 8, 2008 7:58:09 GMT -5
"I know...but...but what? Tony, you're not telling me everything--" *he said in a pained whisper. His voice cracked and he wanted to shout, but the librarian was already glaring at them.*
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Post by Tony on Feb 8, 2008 8:02:22 GMT -5
*Tony sighed--he knew his reluctance to share anything hurt his brother, deeply; and it hurt him as well. But he wanted to keep his pain private, for a while. When it was exclusively his and in his mind, he could perhaps convince himself it was a nightmare, or cherish his memories without the taint of speaking them aloud, even to Andrew.
He smiled sadly at his brother.*
"I need time, Andrew. In time...I'll tell you all of it. I promise."
*He turned back to the book and ripped out the page which contained the only picture he was likely to have of Teleute--upon closer inspection, it looked nothing like her, (not surprisingly--how many of the living had seen her face and had the opportunity to reveal it to the world?) but what were his other options?
He folded the page and slid it into his breast pocket and shut the book, carefully replacing it on the shelf.*
"Come on, Andrew. I'll buy you dinner."
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Post by Andrew on Feb 8, 2008 8:03:07 GMT -5
"But you'll need to borrow the money?" *asked Andrew with a sigh. In some ways, Tony would never change.*
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Post by Tony on Feb 8, 2008 8:03:51 GMT -5
*Tony clapped his brother on the back with a grin, through his mirth did not bubble over as it used to.*
"Life's too short for frugality."
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Post by Tony on Feb 9, 2008 19:14:51 GMT -5
***NEW NIGHT***
*Tony was in the library, night after night, poring over books on ancient natural patterns, lifecycles, the rhythms of the universe--there had to be something in them about when he might see Teleute next--didn't she say she became mortal once every century?*
If I can pinpoint the time and place she'll next arrive...I can find her again...
*Shortly before midnight, the wearied librarian told him he'd have to come back the next day. Tony checked out a pile of books--he could continue his research in his room. Stacking the books higher than his head, he towards the exit, unable to see over or around the books he struggled to maintain a grip on. His reading glasses were perched askew on his nose--apparently he was near-sighted. He'd only never read enough books until recently to find that out.
As a clock somewhere in the dusty quiet of the library chimed the midnight hour, Tony stepped out into the darkened corridor.*
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Post by Teleute on Feb 9, 2008 19:27:53 GMT -5
*Midnight, and there was a girl walking down the corridor, humming a bright tune with a spring in her step. She was after something to read, and wasn't particularly looking where she was going.*
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Post by Tony on Feb 9, 2008 19:33:30 GMT -5
*Tony had felt the hair on the back of his neck rise for just an instant before he collided with something. Someone. The books clattered to the floor in the bonky-slishy manner of hardcovers with soft pages while Tony staggered backwards, his arms windmilling wildly until he lost his balance and landed rather hard on his backside amidst the sad wreckage of the books, his glasses slipping down his nose and his hair all mussed up.
Dazed, he blinked away the green-blue stars floating in his field of vision before he saw the vague dark shape of a girl in a similar position to his own--he knew he'd hit her quite hard.*
"Oh I--I beg your pardon. Are you alright, miss?"
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Post by Teleute on Feb 9, 2008 19:36:52 GMT -5
*She shook her head with a smile, picking herself up and retrieving some of his books.*
"I'll have a bruise on my bum later but otherwi-"
*She stopped her good-natured reply mid-sentence when she realized who it was she'd bumped into.*
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Post by Tony on Feb 9, 2008 19:39:07 GMT -5
*Tony froze in utter shock for all of three seconds before he was on his feet and had thrown his arms about her, holding her close while he merely pressed his lips against her temple, unable to speak.*
I must be dreaming...
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Post by Teleute on Feb 9, 2008 19:45:37 GMT -5
*She dropped the books that she'd gathered and squeaked slightly. She gently pushed him off of her.*
"Hi, Tony."
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Post by Tony on Feb 9, 2008 19:51:55 GMT -5
*Tony drew back slightly and let his hands drop to his sides as he stared at the books on the ground.*
Is that all she can say to me?
"...what are you doing here?" *he whispered, meeting her eyes, his gaze filled with confusion, dread, hope, and the sorrow of the past weeks spent without her.*
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