Booked A Day At The Library

A couple of books thumps lightly on the reception desk, followed by Daiyu plopping down in the accompanying chair. Tails curling off to the side to be out of the way as she picked up one of the books and opened it. To those that had gotten to know her it was probably no surprise that she had taken up many of the head archivist duties for Scale's branch. Though right now she was doing some research of her own, to ensure she has the formulae for the final enchantments on her current project are properly performed. Eventually one hand reachs over to pull a parchment and inkwell closer... though rather than the quill she just dabs one of her claws into the black liquid to use as a quib instead for some notes.

This would occupy her until her serves where needed on a more personal level.

    "Asa, is this quiet enough?" asks a gentle, but unmistakably excited voice. There's also the sound of footsteps, fast little ones and slower, bigger ones.

    "It is, honey. You are doing great."

    Asuna is here! Holding hands with a Lander child. It seems everywhere she goes with the little girl, curious eyes follow. Well, the best are curious. Some are much less kind. Whispers are growing in the Alliance. Asuna is no longer putting the tower clear as her top priority. She has taken on a Lander daughter. She has lost her way.

    The Flash is either unaware of that side of things or she's just not giving it any attention. She seems happy, anyway. Smiling, a spring in her step, and yes, even humming to herself from time to time.

    Up the pair comes to the front desk. Once close, Daiyu can easily see that the child is indeed a Lander and inspects as 'Yui'.

    "Hello!"

    That's from the little girl. She is just too excited not to speak first. Probably more loudly than she ought to be in a library. If others are here, she's likely getting some looks.

Write, write. Flip a page. Write a bit more.

While Daiyu doesn't look up from her book and transcribing immeadiately, the vulpine ears atop her head twitch to the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. The differences in stride are noticed mainly because these are details she pays attention to. There's a good chance she could identify a number of people by their steps, which is a useful skill as both a scout, and measuring an opponent's movements in battle. But duels are not the top of business tonight.

Even if she is listening the entirely time Daiyu doesn't actually look up from her book until the pair are practically in front of the desk. "Hello, Asuna." A nod in greeting, but her attention is immeadiately drawn to the young child. Curiousity perked, the book is set back on the stack. A rag picked up to wipe the ink from her nails. "An interesting guest you have brought with." Glasses are given a light nudge with a fingertip to reposition them on her vulpine features, completing the librarian visage. "Can I help you?"

    With Daiyu's attention on her now, the girl wilts in shyness. She hugs Asuna's leg and partially hides herself behind it. She's still smiling, but there's uncertainty.

    "You're pretty."

    Asuna has one had on Taka's head and the other is lifted to her mouth, covering her smile. She clears her throat and says, "Hello! Taka, this is Daiyu. Daiyu, this is Taka." Yes, it's not her official name, but there's a reason for it. A pause and Asuna says, "And yes, Taka, Daiyu is lovely. I think you had something else you wanted to say, too?"

    It's a gentle nudge. It takes a little bit for Taka to react, though. Shyness is a challenge.

    "I would like to find a book about the sky and rain," she says at last. Her voice is very soft at the start, but she gets a little bit louder at the end. Confidence building with each word.

The compliments are accepted, but quickly overshadowed by what else the young Taka has to say. Which gets Daiyu's expression to light up with renewed interest. "Is that so?" She gives an approving nod as she scoots her chair back so she can stand up. Compared to this her own project can wait a little longer. "Good of you to help and encourage her, Asuna."

She turns, tails swishing with the same composed grace as her other movements as she walks back towards the shelves. Cusps one hand thoughtfully to her chin. "In the day and age of this world not much literature is written specifically for the youth, but certainly we can find something that would be appropriate for your young charge's interests."

    Taka watches Daiyu and is transfixed, like so many before, by the tails. Like any good child, she counts. Or tries. It's really hard when they keep moving and there are so many.

    "How many tails do you have, Daiyu?"

    She simply must know. And since this is a place dedicated to curiosity, she allows herself to be curious. Asuna isn't entirely sure of that answer, herself. She does know that she shouldn't guess Daiyu's precise racial characteristics. Cause that's rude.

    "I understand. There aren't many children's books. But if it's simple enough for me to understand, I can explain it to her and help her get her answers."

    Right on top of this, the child, moving utterly away from shyness, says, "I want to know why clouds all have different shapes. And why sometimes they are puffy and other times they cover the entire sky. But it's still bright enough to see. That seems strange."

"Four," Daiyu replies. "A Huli'jing can have as many as nine, but I am not nearly that powerful." Taka is a mere child not to be troubled by such things so she doesn't get into an explaination of the signifigance of it being four in number. It would only confuse the poor girl that probably doesn't even grasp the difference in cultures and superstitions.

For the audience at home, 4 is considered an unlucky number in China. It is their '13', because the words for 4 and for Death can have very similar spellings and sounds, and Daiyu was meant to be 'bad luck' for her opponents.

The questions of youth don't phase her. She was a professional librarian before this life, such curiosity is to be expected. "That is because the clouds are not entirely solid my dear. So sunlight, while less, can still pass through them. Like a window."

Tails flick a bit. Daiyu frowns slightly. She could explain all those things, but not in a way that would be applicable to a child. That wouldn't ruin the mystique. The wonder. "Ah, but the clouds and their shapes. They have inspired many to admire them, to contemplate them." Instead, she shifts the topic slightly off tanget and she pulls a book out finally. "I think this will do."

She walks back over and holds it down to Taka. It's a book of poetry about the sky and it's many wonders. "Not every question can be answered in a single book, but one book is all it takes to begin one's literary journeys."

A pause. Then a faint smirk upon the otherwise stoic features. "I'm sure Asuna can still help with the bigger words if need be."

    "Ohhh, four. That's really amazing."

    Taka has a positive view of pretty much everything about people at her age. "I bet they are helpful to keep warm."

    But then the knowledge starts dropping about the sky, and she is quiet, attentive, and that little face is serious. "Uta said that touching the clouds would be like touching steam. But she said she can't fly. That's not very fair, is it? I hope she can fly someday. Then she can bring me a cloud to touch!"

    Asuna doesn't have to add much. Taka is, after all, expressing herself very effectively. The child is a lot brighter than a normal child, but considering how Asuna was at that age, she doesn't have much 'normal' to measure against.

    "Oh, I like this choice," the Flash says. "Uta talked to her about poetry and the clouds. I imagine it was hard to understand, but she has been asking me about poetry lately. And honestly, the poems I know are kind of limited. I know some Tang Dynasty poets, though, like Du Fu. But it's kind of hard to remember some of it. I should probably write it down and see if I can figure out the lines I've forgotten."

Daiyu smiles genuinely as the choice is accepted. To see others happy and eager like this was why she became a librarian, and an author, in the first place. "Hopefully someday, yes, the Spriggans and Sylph can regain their ability to fly." And Chaos Gates will work once more. But that is still a far off dream.

She folds her hands behind her back, tilts her head towards Asuna. There is clearly recognition in her expression. "I could likely assist if you did so some day. I have read many of the historical works myself. But for now."

She gives Taka a nudge back to Asuna's side. "You have this one's aspirations to see to." Gives Taka a light pat on the head. "Learn to read this one well, and we will find you something a bit more challenging to attempt. Knowledge is like a treasure, it is to be gained, and it is to be shared." With that she bows, low and elegant. "I bid you both well and good evening." Before walking back to the desk to resume her own project.