|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 1:11:26 GMT -5
He never wanted to read anything with a non-English language text on the facing page ever again. Guiltily, Alex found himself enjoying his trips outside a lot more than his time at home -- the household had become one big festering bruise and it wasn't enough to tread carefully and keep to yourself when the extent of Dad Krolock's personal problems was such that his shitty moods could be felt radiating through a brick wall. New York was denser than other places, and getting out meant getting far enough to hide somewhere else without actually leaving the city, state, or planet.
There were other libraries, but this one was the library, and it was basically like being alone. It wasn't especially close to home, but it was near enough to Herbert for emergencies while far enough to escape the elder Krolock's long shadow, and it had lions. The effect of the latter kind of ruined the former, but they were pretty good lions. He had found a quiet place for himself.
Alex sat curled up like a bean with his knees drawn up, hair unwashed and sunglasses smudged, shedding Band-Aids. On the table: a badly smudged yellow legal pad, a copy of Antigone in translation with notes, and a mountain of imported trash paperbacks, most of which had stepback covers depicting pale weird children. There was one respectable-looking hardcover book of family medicine, but that was mostly as a smokescreen, or a weapon to drop on somebody's knuckles if anyone tried to talk to him. This was a research library, wasn't it? He was researching.
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 1:28:24 GMT -5
He could have just popped in unannounced, but with the current state of affairs that was too much of a risk. This meant he had to track the boy down while trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. "Hey. Hey." Loki dragged back the opposite chair and dropped down into it with considerable force for someone who weighed all of 150 pounds soaking wet.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 1:32:15 GMT -5
Alex looked up from a page of hand-smeared notes and, reflexively, hissed.
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 1:35:14 GMT -5
"Sssh- sssh-"
Loki held up his hands in surrender.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 1:39:17 GMT -5
"Can I help you?"
(The silence was further punctured by the sound of a copy of Seeds Of Yesterday slithering down off the stack and thwapping to the floor.)
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 1:47:12 GMT -5
"Look, all right, I didn't want to catch you at home-"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 1:52:08 GMT -5
"So you caught me at a public library?"
At least it wasn't a public bathroom. What a fucking weirdo.
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 14:45:46 GMT -5
Loki made a show of looking around them.
"Well, obviously."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 14:49:09 GMT -5
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"You rude motherfucker. What happened to Herbert?"
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 14:57:58 GMT -5
"Did something happen to Herbert?"
He pulled off his sunglasses, revealing an expression of sincere, startled concern.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 15:01:33 GMT -5
He gave up on actually whispering and moved on to stage whispers.
"Then why are you here? What are you needing?"
Besides a crash course in the Dewey Decimal System.
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 15:14:42 GMT -5
"More like what you're going to be needing, really," said Loki.
He dug into his pocket- not for show this time, but to produce a tangible, ordinary, pocket-sized set of keys, which he pushed across the table.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 15:22:02 GMT -5
Alex squinted at them from under his sunglasses frames.
"Is this supposed to make immediate sense?"
|
|
|
Post by Loki Odinsson on Nov 22, 2015 15:23:01 GMT -5
"How has Herbert been? Is he safe?"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Regan on Nov 22, 2015 15:27:16 GMT -5
"Depends, by safe do you mean, what--"
He worried a finger through the keyring.
|
|