Jun 06 15:46:13 106 PA
From Chronicles
Jun 06 15:46:13 106 PA
Early afternoon finds Ema at the library, reading as she sits cross legged between two isles of books. She's dressed in baggy white pants, tight, long-sleeved shirt and sneakers, hardly her usual get up, and seems to be in a fairly good mood, if her smile is any indication. She turns pages quickly as she reads, her large eyes moving rapidly on the page, and she seems completely absorbed, not showing any outward sign that she's aware of what's around her.
Another regular of the library arrives, although the data on the shelves may not be what is sought this day. Dressed in his more casual attire, he moves obliquely towards the main desk, eyes skimming over those reading at tables of passing about. Once at the desk, he speaks briefly with on of the librarians before continuing further in.
Ema continues to read, her smile growing as her cheeks begin to dimple. Page after page turns, and she remains completely absorbed, as reading Nietzsche tends to do to her.
Leonard continues past the tables and along the rows of the shelves, glancing down each aisle. Whether aided by the inquiry with the staffmember, or merely being thorough, he steps past each, in turn. The library isn't necessarily the favorite recreational retreat of a certain viole(n)t-streaked individual, but Leonard knows she has an interest in reading. His footfalls stop abruptly as Ema is finally spotted between the rows, and he turns to watch her a moment. An endcap serves as a leaning support, even after he chooses to speak. "Afternoon, Ema. Absorbing knowledge the old-fashioned way, today?"
Ema's smile widens once more, an eyebrow arching as she holds up one finger at the mage. She sits their in silence for a few moments more, before she puts a finger in the spine and closes her book, her other hand lowering as she looks up, "And hello to you too, Leo, what brings you out to the library today? Anything interesting?" she stands fluidly, her book craddled in her arms, held to her chest.
"You do," Leonard's smile is pleasant, if not especially wide, "so, yes, you are certainly interesting. We need to discuss our take-take relationship, and make an adjustment or two." He remains leaning and casual, despite the potential for unhappiness.
Ema has to give it to the man, he sure does know to change her mood. Her smile fades a bit as she arches an eyebrow, "Oh?" she asks, arms unfolding to hang at her side, book still held in her left hand, "I really hope..." she shakes her head, ligaments in her neck tightening briefly, her eyes finding yours, "How?"
Leonard is adept at swinging moods. Sometimes his own, but especially in those around him. One reason to keep matters polite, casual, and without, for example, blood staining the books. "Just in my attempting to sate you with my 'adequate' athletics, Ema. I don't believe that was what you really desire from me, anyhow. That's the only change I propose." He's wobbles the fence enough that, maybe, he can tiptoe along the top of it, too.
Ema's lip twitches, seeming to be on the verge of erupting into a sneer, her large eyes black and cold as she looks at the young, and oh so inexperienced, shifter, "The only change?" she says, eyes considering you, as if trying to decide if you're serious. She closes the gap quickly, no warning given as she strides towards Leo, standing quite close to him before she stops, "How many times do you think you can mess with me before I start to take is personal, Leo?"
"I'm not messing with you, and, yes, that's the only change." Leonard straightens from his lounging stance to stand upright. He's dancing on wire, and it applies to his attempts to keep his tone balanced, as well. "No one is pushing you away, denying you, or anything of the sort. I'm not even asking you to 'behave,' for the most part. It may be belated, but I'm simply attempting to do what I should have done in place of ensorceling you that night. Not zero-sum, but compromise."
Ema reaches out to grab the mage and pull him into the isle, attempting to then push him up against the books and hold him in place, "I want you, I don't want you, I want you, I don't want you." she growls, "What the fuck makes you think you can play with someone like that, Leo? And me? Really? I thought you were smarter than that." she takes a deep breath, book falling to the ground as she balls a fist, "I want everything you have every 5-6 days. And you have put up a bit of a fight." eyes narrow on you as another breath is taken.
If she wishes him to put up a fight at this moment, she'd be disappointed, as he does nothing to prevent her manhandling. Not psychically, at least. A brow arches above a curling smile. "It's always been play for you, Ema, so would it not be smarter that I play by the same rules? You're welcome to whatever you want, to the limit of that one change." His head leans towards her as much as his limited mobility allows. "Presuming you can take it, of course. I won't make it easy, just for you." As one of the few proponents of his aggressiveness, she's also the best one to whom it should be applied.
Ema's jaw clenches as she stares at the man, her body seeming almost coiled and poised to strike. Her hand unclenches as she lets the man go, and takes a step back, "Once a week then, we'll have a little sparring match. Meat against meat, and it's finished when only one of us can stand." she cracks her neck before squatting to pick up her book, eyes quickly moving back to Leo as she stands, "You stand me up, or I don't see you for a week, I'm going to find you, and take a little extra. Maybe a finger, ear." she shrugs, "That's my counter offer."
Leonard watches her reclaim her book while smoothing out his shirt. "I /am/ smart enough not to renege, Ema. Besides, it would be therapeutic for the both of us, and everyone gets what they want." His smile evens out to something more earnest and the edge in his tone is blunted. "See? I knew that we could still be friends."
"You can't be trusted, especially not when I'm concerned, it seems. You certainly have no idea how to treat a person, even one like me" She takes another step back, leaning against the opposite isle, "I'm not sure we're friends, we'll see." her face scrunches a bit before she clears her throat, her tongue moving behind closed lips as if working at something caught in her teeth, "You really disappoint me, Leo, that's twice now." she turns, and starts to head down the isle, book once again held to her chest by crossed arms, "Don't risk a third time."
"I won't." The reply is kept extremely simple, and is somewhat softer than all Leonard's words before it, but no less genuine. He pointedly refrains from comment on her assessment of his social skills, as hypocritical as it may be. Her departure is followed only with his gaze, although he does exit the aisle in her wake.
