forum The Stars and the Sun // O/O // Closed

Started April 12, 2021 by @MarDeColores this is not it kids

tune

Kuno's head shot up, his eyes immediately going to the door. It seemed like the assistant had arrived at last. Either that, or it was some person who didn't know the library was closed. Either way, he had to answer the door. Kuno set down the book he'd been dusting off and headed towards the door.
"Hello?" Kuno opened the door and peered out to see a young man holding a large book standing outside the door. "Oh, if you're here for a book, the library is closed for now. Sorry." His voice was rough, a reminder of… well. The past. He kind of hated it, but there was nothing to be done.

"U-um, no, I'm the uh, the new assistant?" Edward stammered out. 'Hah' the Book chuckled. 'He looks like you'll have a hard time killing him. Not that I though you could in the first place, weakling.' Edward tried to keep the sadness and unceartainty from that comment off his face, but a bit mananged to slip through before he quickly wiped it off. The Book still confused Edward; sometimes it would whisper praises and tell him he was doing a great job, and other times it would criticize everything he did.

"The new assistant? Oh, right. Sorry." Kuno opened the door wider, allowing for this new assistant to enter the library. "I saw the book and assumed." His eye narrowed slightly at the weird, quick look of uncertainty and even sadness that crossed over the man's face. "My name is Kuno. And you?" Kuno glanced at the book in the man's arms. "If you need somewhere to set that down, there's a table here by the door." He gestured at it, waiting for the man to put it down. He wouldn't be able to work with it in his arms, and if he kept it with him it might be mixed up with the other books. It wouldn't be good if he lost it, especially if it was important. It had to be important, didn't it? Otherwise, the man wouldn't carry it with him.

Edward felt a sense of severe panic wash over him at the prospect of possibly losing the Book. "N-no. The book stays with me." 'He's trying to take me away from you. He'll make you helpless and useless without me' Edward tightened his hold on the Book, carefully stepping forword to enter the libraray. "I'm, uh, I'm Edward."

"Alright, then," Kuno sighed. He'd better keep track of it, then, because Kuno wasn't going to be held responsible if he lost it. "Nice to meet you, qle-Edward." Kuno started towards the bookshelf he'd been working on. "Do you know what you'll be doing here, or do you need an explanation?" He stopped in front of the bookshelf and turned around. Even if Edward said he knew what was going on, Kuno was still planning on telling him a few things. Just so everything would go smoothly.

"I-I would like an explanation, please." Edward looked around the library. It was beautiful, if a bit cluttered, but are libraries really libraries without some books strewn around? "I know vaguely what is, uh, what I'm going to be doing, but, uh, an explanation w-would be nice. Also, you might, uh, have some things to t-tell me that they d-didn't."

"Alright, then." Kuno nodded. "As you can see," he continued, waving around at the library, "this place is a mess. We're just cleaning up the shelves, organizing, and taking out any books related to the canyu." Canyu was the word used to refer to the dead queen and king. It was half insult and half name, to be honest. But it fit, considering all the pain those two had put the country through. "You can start with this shelf. Start by taking out all the books and clean the shelves, then put them back in an organized manner. If you have any questions, I'll be right here." Kuno gestured at the bookshelf he was working on.

Edward opened his mouth to ask: "Why are you getting rid of the books about the old king and queen?", but thought better of it when the Book hissed, 'SHUT UP you idiot, you're going to get us caught! If they're getting rid of the books, they're getting rid of the books! The books have no connecton to your mission, so LEAVE THEM.' Edward shook his head slightly, hoping that it would clear his mind of the Book's insults, and headed over to the bookshelf that Kuno had gestured to to start cleaning it. He placed the Book on the floor next to the shelf, earning a 'How DARE you put me on the floor like a normal book you absolute imbicile', which made Edward wnat to move it before remembering it would seem strange if Kuno saw him reposition the Book on a table or chair.

(Yep, you're allowed to curse.)
By that time, Kuno had already diverted his full attention towards his task. Any strange actions of Edward's would have been lost to him. As he pulled books off the shelf and stacked them next to it, he went over the spells he was learning in his mind. Well, mostly in his mind. Every once in a while, he would mutter a phrase out loud without realizing it. It was probably a good thing that these spells required materials because otherwise, things would have been very interesting. And possibly very dangerous. After clearing the shelf, he started wiping it down with a damp rag. It was slow business, and by the time he finished this one, it would probably already be lunchtime. That was fine, though. There was no rush.

Kuno set the last book in place and glanced towards one of the windows. The sun appeared to be almost directly overhead, so taking a lunch break would make sense. He glanced over at Edward and stepped away from the bookshelf. "Are you hungry? It's nearly time for lunch." Kuno glanced towards the door. "If you don't know the way to the kitchen, I can show you." He hoped that Edward knew how to get to the kitchen because he really didn't want to have lunch with someone. Especially since it was someone he didn't know at all.

Edward looked up from where he was replacing a few books on a lower shelf. "Oh, um, yeah, I-I suppose I'm uh, a bit hungry. I-I, uh, don't-don't know where the-the kitchen is. But, um, uh, you don't have to sh-show me if, uh, if you don't-if you'd rath-rather be, uh, doing s-something else." He said the last sentance slightly rushed, as if he was scared that Kuno would say something before he could finish. 'Wooooow', the Book said sarcastically. If it had hands, it would be slow clapping. 'Your stutter is so strong, I'd be surprised if he could even understand what you said. I've told you you should work on fixing that useless part of you. It does nothing but harm.'

"Alright, just follow me," Kuno said, letting out a small sigh. Maybe this was an intervention on Sol's part, trying to get him to know more people. He appreciated their care but still didn't want to. "You don't have to be so nervous around me. I'm not going to hurt you." He added. Kuno didn't like the fact that Edward seemed to be so nervous in his presence. It was a new job and he was a stranger, but still. It wasn't like Kuno was going to throw him off the cliff or yell at him. Kuno led the way out of the library, through the hallways, and towards the kitchen.

Edward nodded. "Ah, sorry. I'll, um, I'll try to s-stop." 'See, nobody likes that as a trait, not just me.' The Book semmed to think for a moment, the added, 'Maybe you'll actually stop that horrible habit of yours now that you have an outside opinion. But remember, the only person you need is me. Nobody else. Remember that, Edward.' Edward decided not to point out that the Book is not actually a person, knowing that that would only end in his head being full of high pitched screaming noises for a while. If Edward stumbled a few times following Kuno, he didn't notice, thinking too hard about the Book and his stutter.

(You're okay! :)
"Oh. You're okay, really. I just wanted to make sure you knew." Kuno sighed to himself. Somehow he felt as though he had made it worse. The way through to the kitchens could be a bit of a maze for a newcomer, winding around multiple courtyards. They finally arrived at a kitchen bustling with activity. In the center was a table full of different dishes, one side laden with plates and utensils. One door down was a huge room packed with tables and people, laughter and voices spilling out into the hallway. "Here we are," Kuno said rather unnecessarily, waving at the kitchen. "Shall we get some food?"