Dust and Tomes [Open]

[Elric Vlarintos]

"I AM THE WAY INTO THE DOLEFUL CITY,
I AM THE WAY INTO ETERNAL GRIEF,
I AM THE WAY TO A FORSAKEN RACE.

JUSTICE IT WAS THAT MOVED MY GREAT CREATOR;
DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE CREATED ME,
AND HIGHEST WISDOM JOINED WITH PRIMAL LOVE.

BEFORE ME NOTHING BUT ETERNAL THINGS
WERE MADE, AND I SHALL LAST ETERNALLY
ABANDON EVERY HOPE, ALL YOU WHO ENTER."

-Inferno, Canto III:1-9

It always struck Elric as odd that he might find a book with such heavily religious tones in the Palace Library. Admittedly, he had never sought out the other two volumes of the Divine Comedy; he was unsure if the themes of Purgatory and Paradise would have been suitably dark for the tastes of Boogies.

Or too well-suited for humans in a very depressing life. Elric considered the possibility that such writing could be perceived as stirring up rebellious tendencies in slaves. Whether or not the books would in reality was another debate entirely that Elric was not terribly certain he wished to start any time soon.

He used to read this book quite a bit when he was younger, it would make him feel a little better about the fate that was thrust upon him. Elric shifted his weight a little bit in the chair so he could sit comfortably and make good use of the light to read.

Perhaps Naelona would not have approved of such a silly book. She seemed keen on keeping notes, but Elric did not recall seeing anything that looked like it might not be a ledger in her room. Perhaps she simply did not have time for reading with everything else that was her responsibility. It seemed odd to use those words in regards to his Mistress--her responsibilities seemed mostly self-inflicted so far as Elric could tell. Then again, it was just as likely that he was never allowed to be around when she received her orders from another. His mind traced over the conception of the claimed oligarchy once again.

Were the Ezels one of the elites? It would not be a stretch from the way Naelona seemed to act, but Anolean was a different story. He was similar, but opposite in many ways. Elric had heard bad things about their father. If he could avoid it, he would rather not meet directly with the man.

His eyes lifted from the pages of his book and glanced around the library. It had been fairly quiet for the short amount of time he had been here today. There were no commotions of someone accidentally releasing one of the books, pulling out entire shelves or any of the usual nonsense. On second thought, the library was huge and such things could easily occur while escaping his observation. Elric would not bother seeking out noisy distractions, however.

[Kristopher Roberts]

The sound of something sharp being stabbed into wood echoed through the silent library. It happened twice as a chain rattled and tabled moved. The sounds of a cane slamming into something hard bound soon followed.

Down past three isle from Elric would be Kristopher Roberts. He sat at stood at a table with a book pinned to said table. Its hard bound back and pages had a thick and long dagger stabbed into it, one of both sides. The book was pissed its chain rattled, the one to keep it on the bookshelf.

One hand was on a page, skimming it quickly as if looking for answers he never would fine. Both eyes quickly went through the pages, his red eye moving the fastest. When he didn't see what he needed, he slammed his cane into the book, ripped the knife out, turned the page and restabbed both pages back down to keep the book from making a meal out of him.

He looked fustrated as if he had not been sleeping well. He hadn't. He had too many problems without enough answeres. His eyes fluttered, it was a known fact that Kristopher was not a very good reader, even though his brother and Augusta had been working hard to increase his reading level. But now he found his skills annoying, picking up words here and there, relaying on the pictures he saw on the old pages.

"That's not it!" he declared under his breath, turning the pages again with the same process as before. "It has to be here...somewhere." His green eye scanned as his red eye seemed to be unsure what it was doing anymore, as it scanned the page and then waited for the new page.

His hand rand down the page and to the next, staring at the pictures and reading the words that he could. He needed answers, he had to have them before he went insane. Oddly enough, the book he was reading was of boogie folklore, talents and experiments. So more so a history book then anything.

[Elric Vlarintos]

Of course, silence was a blessing that never seemed to last long in such a place. Just as Elric managed to make himself comfortable he noted the periodic muffled pounding. Was someone beating on one of the books? Elric attempted to ignore it, but the pause between beats was just long enough that he could not tune it out and frequent enough that his curiosity was rising.

It seemed he would not be reading much of Dante today. The white-haired man shut the book and tucked it under his arm. He crossed three aisles until he reached a blond boy frantically looking through a book. Specifically, it seemed to be one of the books. Elric moved quietly forward and stared for a moment. He was more than a little surprised that the book was even written in English. Then again, he had never really investigated what was in most of the foul-tempered books.

The process by which Kristopher turned the page was interesting. Elric actually whistled for a moment. "Never thought of that--probably works a lot better than breaking their spine, huh?"

Was that a joke? From Elric? A good joke, no less.

Elric observed Kristopher with genuine interest in why he would be attempting to read such a book. It hardly seemed like the subject matter for a sickly blond boy to take up for a relaxing afternoon or evening. Actually, Kristopher looked like he might be in need of some relaxation now that he got a closer look at him.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher paused in his motions of reading to turn his head to regard Elric. He had to wonder how long he had been there, he hadn't heard him approach until the last minute. Smiling awkwardly, he nodded. "Yes, yes, a much easier way to open and read these books." He stated and went back to reading and repeating the turning page method.

"However, one has to be quick or lose a finger." Raising a hand, he rubbed this face. He was tired and really did need a way to relax, but that would not be possible, not yet at least.

His eyes looked through the pages again, half the text was English here and there the other parts was in boogie language with its odd arcs and sharp curves. More then likely, he never realized the different language he was reading.

"So, what are you doing here?" Inquired the blond, a blood red eye shooting out from under long bangs to view his company. "I never thought you the type to read." At that moment, Kender came along and walked around Elric, rubbing up against him in a way of saying hello.

Kris seemed to noticed this and looked down at his pet, who then moved towards Kristopher happily. The young feline jumped up on his Masters shoulders in one leap, then curled around his shoulders like a shaw.

[Elric Vlarintos]

Elric had spent a lot of time in the past with letters. Reading over another person's shoulder was difficult, but Elric could see very clearly that the book had been scribed with two different sets of characters. It chilled Elric to realize that he recognized both sets.

Granted, he still did not know what one set was really saying, but he had spent plenty of time learning to scribe them on his own. Naelona had seemed quite intent to make certain Elric had proficiency in penmanship. She had also seemed very keen on not allowing others to see the characters. It led Elric's mind to snowball on the possible origins of 'Snappy' and his ilk.

"Seems like you have it figured out," Elric noted. Kristopher still had all of his fingers and did not seem like he'd be losing any of his anytime soon.

Idle fingers reached down and stroked at the passing feline. Little known about Elric was that he had an appreciation for cats and that he was an avid reader. Apparently Piper had never shared the story about how Elric happened upon her in the library that one time. Probably better that she did not--Kristopher already seemed to have plenty of ideas about the two of them with which Elric was not comfortable.

"Yeah, funny world. I'm very literate." Elric had been reasonably old when he came to Wonderland, so it was something he had already been taught to some extent. Kristopher assuming that Elric was not the type to read brought back unpleasant memories of dealing with his father. He did not notice the red eye glaring at him momentarily while he considered it.

"I was reading Inferno again, but I heard some commotion over here." Elric stared at Kristopher looking through the book. "Excuse me for being forward, but exactly what are you looking for in one of those?"

[Kristopher Roberts]

A small chuckle came from him as he stopped his quest and rubbed Kenders small head with his hand. He loved his feline more then anything, it was a companion that would never leave him, never question or betray him for any reason.

The blond stood up straight, a hand coming to rest on the open pages again as the other held his cane the correct way to keep him standing. Yeah, his arm was healed at last and still stiff to move about much like his legs. "Sorry, if I offended you with my words. It's just...you seem more the type of man to hit rather then ask questions. But looks...are deceiving, are they not?" So says the sickly blond as his hand trailed down the pages, one eye looking at the words, the other on Elric.

"Inferno? Hmm, sadly I have not heard of that book, it is a bit beyond my reading skills." He sighed sadly then, "I have never been able to read properly no matter how much I've been taught, I can not understand what I read and yet..." He stared at his book for a long while and soon his attention was brought back to Elric.

Slowly, he raised a brow, what was he looking for? The reason escaped him and so he shrugged his shoulders. "I am looking for knowledge about what has been done to me. I feel the urge to learn more about the "gift" I was given, yet at the same time I am confused, Elric. I don't want to know anything this book has to offer but I feel like I have too...like I am being pushed forward to do so. I don't understand it one bit."

A sigh escaped his lips as he admitted softly, turning back to his book. "I think I am going insane..."

[Elric Vlarintos]

Kristopher truly did not seem well, but that was hardly surprising. Elric had learned that the boy was often sick, and there was very little that could be done for him. If it was not for the fact that he was searching desperately through a book that should have just been left shut Elric might not have thought twice about it.

But no, Kristopher was delving into tomes that were better left shut. If that was not a clue that something was amiss, his words were all the evidence Elric might need. The boy was concerned about his eye. Who wouldn't be? It freaked Elric out, but he was far too polite to actually say anything about it.

"Do not apologize, Kristopher. I swear that I hear enough apologies in a day as it is." It seemed like most people in Wonderland were infected with some kind of disease that made them sad and mopey. Elric was mostly non-emotional, but that was nothing new.

"Perhaps I would share it with you sometime," Elric said, referring to the book under his arm. "But I suspect you would not like the book. There are better reading choices." No need to confirm every single scary thought that Kristopher had ever had about Elric with just a few short passages from the book describing all the numerous ways people suffer in Hell.

In some ways, Elric understood the power of a personal drive. It was like a spirit took over and beckoned you forward, even if the action was terribly uncharacteristic. Christmas Eve came to mind, but Elric pushed that thought aside. It was still quite some time ago.

"I would think that the one who gave you the eye would have the answers you seek." It seemed highly unusual that Kristopher would not be able to ask Naelona. It had seemed that when Elric asked Naelona about the nature of asking questions that Kristopher might have more free reign on the privilege than Elric.

Unless, for some reason, Kristopher could not ask Naelona this question festering in his mind.

[Kristopher Roberts]

The young blond let out a sigh, his eyes stopped searching the pages for answers. Now he merely stared down at the book like a lost soul. "Then I will not apologize for anything else today, if it makes you feel better." His voice came out gentle with real meaning, he hated to offend people but yet he was oh so very good at it without knowing.

He merely nodded softly when Elric offered to read the book to him at some point. Kristopher always liked people reading to him, seeing as it was so beyond his reach to do his own reading. "That would be nice, I am afraid to admit that no one has read to me in a long time, Augusta normally did...but his books always confused me." A small smirk appeared on his face before falling away.

Naelona. Certainly, that would be the person to ask about his eye. But he knew better then to approach her nowadays. "Madam Naelona has, how should I say it? No longer wishes to see me for sometime, I am afraid. She can no longer help me."

"Because I cause her too much pain and suffering...so I will no longer bother her with my troubles or cause her trouble if I can help it." Thought the blond as he ran a hand down his face. He was starting to feel tired from all the digging and being unable to find what he needed.

"No, I don't think a boogie can help me. Not many humans have been given pieces of boogies before and so...no one knows its effect upon me. It frightens me, Elric. Not the eye, but the possibilities of me slipping. Sometimes, I no longer feel like myself and I feel this book might hold answers to my questions. But I can not read half the words here let alone understand the pages."

Kristopher felt defeated now and slumped into a near by chair to get off his legs for a few minutes.

"Human's are not to live as long as we have, especially myself. I wonder if Wonderland has effects on the human mind after sometime. That is what I want to know. I want to know is it possible for me to lose it here to the point that I am nothing more then a living doll or if I ill change completely. Though, I believe I am no longer making sense."

[Elric Vlarintos]

Elric felt a rising urge to hit himself in the face. Clearly, people took his own assertiveness when telling people to assert themselves as just an abrasive character trait of his. Everyone spent enough time subjecting themselves to Boogie masters without apologizing for every little thing to their own kind.

It felt like Kristopher was now just apologizing for apologizing. Elric let the point go, but it didn't mean that it caused him any less of a headache while he considered it. Clearly, some things had really changed since the two had last spoken in the hospital. Even in the hospital, some things had seemed to have changed. Kristopher was lodged into something turbulent now.

"Maybe we'll read something together sometime, then." The choices were limited mostly to mythology, but Elric was certain they could find something Kristopher might enjoy. But now was not the blond's time for recreational reading.

And the more Elric listened to Kristopher talk the more things started to click. He was able to piece together things that were not quite so pleasant. Kristopher was a sickly slave and he had just had a falling out with his protective Mistress. In some ways, that tossed him fully into the harsh realities of Wonderland. The boy would be facing his own shortcomings and his mortality. These were things that most slaves got out of their system early, or they died.

"I see." Elric said quietly. The large man set himself on the floor in a sitting position with his back against a bookshelf. Even while sitting Elric managed to maintain his large appearance. He thoughtfully considered Kristopher's predicament.

"I'm curious about how long you have been here, Kristopher." Slaves who lived a long period of time were unusual. Kristopher may have even been here longer than Elric. The pale man had his own scars from living here, but he had nearly as many from the time before.

"And I don't necessarily think I follow what your concern is yet. Or perhaps I understand, but I'd rather not?" What Kristopher was hinting at was not a pleasant thought. Elric considered that he might be doing Kristopher a favor if he put the boy out of his misery here and now. Elric... was not certain he could force himself to do it though. Maybe he was just being greedy, but it would not be something he could do even if Kristopher were to tell him it would be a blessing.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher leaned back in his chair in thought quietly to himself for a moment. How long had he been here? How long was it until he as really allowed human contact...even though it wasn't his right to have such a thing, according to his Madam, anyways.

"I've been here since I turned seven years old. However, I wasn't allowed to have contact with others until I was eighteen. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with my current standing but its interesting to note, isn't?"

The boy then let out a soft chuckle, one of amusement. "It's alright, I haven't the fainest clue about why I got my undies in a pinch either. Maybe I am just paranoid, or I took to heart what Naelona has told me. I have either adapted far too well or I have changed into a selfish man that hurts others around him."

Slowly, his gaze fell back on the book to his side, hand resting upon it. "But I still feel as if I have to do something, but I have no idea what it is and it pisses me off. Actually, a lot of things piss me off as of late and I have no idea why."

He turned his attention to Elric then, looking directly at him for a moment. "I know we haven't talked much and know very little about each other, but to you, does it appear that I have changed, in some way, for the worse and I don't mean my decaying health."

[Elric Vlarintos]

Elric's tongue seemed to play more on the inside of his lips as he considered that Kristopher had been here since he was seven. It was a stab in the dark, but Elric guessed that meant about twelve years. Kris had been here one year longer than Elric.

Perhaps it was just coincidence that he noted the edges of his own sanity fraying bit by bit. Perhaps it was that time decayed the human mind here, and it would not be long before both Kristopher and he were completely mad. Of course, Elric had only Kristopher's word to go off of. So far as Elric could tell, the boy was purely the victim in these circumstances.

And yet, even a victim could be pushed far enough to give action to thoughts best left inert. Elric looked up quietly at Kristopher. He was not the type to weigh thoughts on a precise set of mental scales, but he hefted the possibilities quietly in his mind. His course of action was already set in his mind, but he needed to understand if it was the correct action for the time.

His assessment might still change at a later date.

"It is as you have said. I note very little change in regards to your personality, save that little things seem to bother you in a manner disproportionate to their appropriate response." The incident with Aione Higurashi came to Elric's mind. The Kristopher he had first met would not have been that way--unless he had been hiding it very well.

Either that, or Elric was significantly more intimidating than he would ever give himself credit for. The possibility that there was a lot more that transpired between Kristopher and Aione did not even cross his mind.

"May I ask what it was that Naelona told you specifically?" It would be interesting to see what it was that made Kristopher think he was adapted 'too well' to Wonderland. In Elric's mind, perfect adaptation meant that you were completely jaded in regards to everything--something remarkably close to what Elric achieved on the occasion.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher's two colored eyes narrowed slowly into thin slits. He stared hard at Elric for a long moment and then slowly let out a shy, closing his eyes. He leaned his head back and dropped a hand over his damaged face. "I suppose you are correct on that note. I have been set off by the smallest and sillest of things, though I never react to such things. Normally, I am a well mannered individual the patience of a sloth." Meaning, it takes a very long time for his temper to even move from calm to pissed off.

With Aione, of course Elric didn't know the whole thing or see the full picture. But Kristopher wouldn't want to talk about it if Elric had brought it up...or maybe he might. Who could tell anymore what was going on in the blonds head. "I honestly, have no idea what is wrong with me. One minute Im scared and the next I am ready to rip someone apart. It isn't me."

Now he glanced at Elric, lowering his hand but staring up at the ceiling. "It doesn't matter what he's like, Kristopher. He may be human now, but all slaves go one of two ways. You either become subservient to Wonderland, or in the end you consume the world with it..."

A tired sigh escaped his lips then, "That. Is what she told me Elric. Lovely. Isn't?"

[Elric Vlarintos]

Elric listened intently, as though he were expecting whatever Naelona said to suddenly make all the pieces fit together. It was not a central piece of the puzzle, as Elric had hoped, but it gave him an edge from which he could work inward. She had been talking about someone to Kristopher--warning him away from Augusta, or possibly Zeke? The nature of the statement seemed to imply that it was some human of whom she did not approve.

Elric's thumb pressed against his fingers one at a time until each gave a crack. It was not something he usually did--his first masters in particular had found it to be a very annoying habit. The point had been made perfectly clear after they threatened to break his hands.

Slaves went one way or another? That seemed to be the philosophy Naelona was carrying to the situation. She would not seem the type to use deception to get what she wanted. Or, perhaps, she would deceive through omission. Elric could not see what she might be omitting here, but it was no wonder that Kristopher was nervous about his current situation.

"I can, ah, see why that would get you thinking." It got Elric thinking. Elric could not tell which way it was that he was going, if he was going either way. He was tempted to think that he was trying to tread down both paths at the same time. It might be worth breaching in a conversation with Naelona at some point or another.

On the other hand, Kristopher's behavior would suggest just one path. "It might be that you're just reading too deeply into it," Elric said aloud suddenly. He was not certain whether he had meant it as a thought directed at himself or at Kristopher. He decided to go with it. "You think it started when you got your... eye?" Elric had avoided the topic a great deal because it made him slightly uncomfortable. It was like talking with a burn victim about the scars.

"Not before, when you were just maimed, but after you got the new eye?" Elric needed to be sure that the point was clarified.