Hunting In The Library

Katherine Tanzer
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ

    The Hunter's Guild is where many go to find jobs about hunting down monsters and other such duties. There is however another group of people who come here as well, those who want to read.

One such person browsing these books to escape the cold air outside, is Katherina Tanzer, a mountain slate blue imp with skimpy clothing choices and then body to pull it off. It was hard for a few male Adventurers to even keep their eyes off her, along with probably a few comments being made between them.

However, the imp does not seem to care, as she pulls a book from the shelf and slowly reads over a few pages inside the book, seeming to be looking for something in the library.
Atif
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ


    In the meantime, one person who comes here for both reasons happens to appear through the door...

    And almost immediately, upon spotting the Imp, slip out of sight and hide behind a bookshelf.

    With how... bizarrely Atif's previous encounters with the woman have gone lately, he is actually somewhat hesitant to get into direct contact with her right away. He's left there, back pressed against the head of the long bookshelf to consider his options, and... Then come to the conclusion that he can't just hide from a problem like this. He usually doesn't hide from any other problems, so why should this be any different, right?

    "Hello, Lady Tanzer."

    ...And, apparently his chosen method of trying to get over this particular hangup he has, is to simply attempt to deal with it as he deals with most other people he knows. By appearing almost inexplicably right nearby, without having made any prior noise to alert them to his approach. Even after this already almost backfired horribly with Xander the other day! And thus, the Imp will find the Red Salamander standing there on her left, tail flicking from one side to the other and green eyes peering curiously to the book already in her hands.
Katherine Tanzer
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ

    Atif successful sneaks up on Katherine, which causes the imp woman to nearly lose her composure, and she 'eeks' loudly, as the book comes swinging around like bludgeon weapon for the poor red-head Salamander's face.

It is only after the fact does she realize /who/ it is and stares at him with her glowing eyes. Though she does not apologize, instead she holds the book closer to her chest and says with anger toward him with an imp thrashing tail. "Do you know how rude is to sneak up a woman?! The indignity of it all!" Before she /hmphs/ and places her nose slightly up in the air.

Katherine then takes a few hoof steps away from him, before looking for another book to read over.
Atif
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ


    "Wai-"

    Too late to react properly, Atif takes the +5 Mace of Literature right into his face, sending him recoiling back and stumbling a few steps worth while his hands go up to hold onto his pained features. "AUGH!"

    At least the game engine of ETO doesn't support realistic injury effects. Otherwise there'd be some serious nosebleed going on.

    "I wasn't--" He starts to protest while rubbing at his face with just one hand then, so that he might peek with at least one of his eyes to the imp. But, before he can finish the words, his shoulders slump down. "... I'm sorry."

    With a sigh, he straightens up where he stands, and leans slightly to the side to get a look at the shelf she's going through. "... I was going to ask. Are you looking for something specific?"
Katherine Tanzer
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ

    The lady imp doesn't address Atif right away, her delicate claw fingers going over the spins of several books as she continues to browse the titles before her. When she does respond to Atif, he gets a very simple, "No."

Then she looks over toward him with her Lavender, glowing eyes. Barely facing him, as her tail lashes the air once more. "This is one thing, my dear noble Atif," She then looks away from him. "You can not help me with."

"For what I seek, I seek alone." She says pulling out another book, flipping through a few pages, before putting it back. "What I will say is that it deals with magic, as I desire to increase my knowledge beyond that of my current skills."
Atif
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ


    Atif's lips purse subtly while he waits for the answer from the Imp. His hand falls away from his face finally in the meantime. Hey, for once, the red on his face isn't a result of her teasing him. Though that might turn into a bruise later...

    "...I see." The words are nearly sighed out. He seems equally disappointed in himself for having upset the woman, as he is in being unable to give proper help in the matter.

    "... My mastery of magic hardly matches yours, I am sure," he inevitably agrees, while he turns to run his own scaled fingers over the books in front of him. "So you're probably right. I can't help directly with that."

    There's a brief pause, while one finger dips onto the top corner of one book onthe shelf, using it to tug it outwards at a slight angle before settling it back in there again. "But I'm fairly familiar with the archiving methods in the library here. If nothing else, I can at least help look for relevant texts..."

    He peeks sidelong to her. "...If you would like the help, anyway."
Katherine Tanzer
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ

    "I rather you did not." Katherina says softly, as she goes to place another book away. "But I have a question for you Atif." She sultry walks over to him, now seeming to check on how badly she may have hit him.

Her voice goes quiet, almost a whisper, as her lips move close to his ear, "Do you miss your life beyond the veil of this world?" Her lips move away, as she then dangles a low level potion in front of him. "It will taste horrible, but it will clear that little red right up."
Atif
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ


    Though the whispered words are innocuous, having them whispered right into his ear causes Atif, regardless, to shiver faintly. And as it happens, red flushes further over his features, mixing over that faint flare where the book collided with him.

    "...I don't," he admits quietly in answer to her then, managing to actually look her in the eyes when he does.

    A curious blink at the offered bottle before it's taken, and his lips curve into a wry smile. "...Thank you. I'll have to brew you something later to pay you back."
Katherine Tanzer
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ

    "Just a simple low level potion, nothing more." The imp says with a gentle hand wave. "At any rate, I should make my way back to my camp." She places back the book she was holding. "Perhaps ee will speak more later, hm?"

The imp turns herself a way, as she says to him with her sultry step out towards the door. "I think you and I have much we could perhaps discuss."
Atif
Alne - Hunters Guild HQ


    "I know, but still," insists Atif with a shake of his head. He doesn't open up the bottle's cork right away, though, since he gets a bit distracted by what she says. "You don't stay in town?"

    Then, a rapid blink sent at her departing back. "...We do?" He rumbles out, before gulping quietly. "... You know how to reach me. Um. Later."

    Yep, definitely left standing akwardly there in the wake of... well, her. THere's probably some people sharing some conspirational whispers about him nearby as a result.