*We have a roof on our Library now!*
The construction in the Library finally seems to be finished, and the results are amazing. A simple, graceful geometry of metal and wood struts arch across the ceiling, forming a semi-geodesic dome structure which supports translucent, pearly white panels which serve as the roof. They are apparently not glass, but something at once lighter and tougher than glass, with something of a seashell sheen to them. The lighting in the library is brighter than electricity during a sunny day but soft; the opacity of the panels seems to protect the books from the harm of direct sun.
The bookshelves have returned to their proper places along the walls, also forming proper stacks, but they are still mostly empty. Piles of books, stacks of books, ramparts of books are everywhere upon the glitteringly new-varnished wooden floor. Two ancient book-trolleys-- one freshly painted an incongruous canary-yellow, and the other sporting a cheerful coat of candy-apple red-- are also loaded with books.
To the left as you enter from the front door stands the Librarian's desk, polished to a reluctant gleam, with a few patched comfortable chairs in front of it. To your right is the card catalog, the little drawers neatly labeled.
On the tripod, just in front of the door, is a large piece of paper reading:
"Please Be Patient While The Librarians Reorganize Our Books. Isn't Our New Roof Wonderful!?!?!?!!?!?!?"
Did someone call for 'tall, dark, and handsome'? Well, dark's fairly well covered, at least. Jet-black hair's pulled into a long, loose tail at the nape of his neck, a few stray strands about the face occasionally drifting into his almost equally dark eyes, the irises of which are a brown deep enough that one needs to look closely to find the pupil. Nut-brown skin that sets off the white of his teeth and eyes -- it could just barely be mistaken for a very deep tan, if one really tried. Tall is a miss; he's still several inches off six feet, and he probably won't ever get there. Handsome... well, not a classic beauty, to be sure, but well-proportioned, with a stunning, frequent grin and deeply expressive features. Slim, but in perfectly good shape.
He's clad in... well, black leather pants. Somewhat faded, well broken in, but nicely cut and really =quite= nicely fitted. A simple cream shirt is tucked into them at the waist; the collar of it's left mostly unlaced, the ends of the cord hanging down. Over that, he wears a decidedly well-worn old black trenchcoat, almost too big for him -- the cuffs hang down half-over his hands, when he lets them, and the hem hangs perilously close to his heels. Scuffed black leather boots with worn soles adorn his feet; there's a seemingly random collection of bracelets, all on one wrist, and several piercings along the upper section of each ear -- little silver hoops.
This young man has a definite Native American cast to his features. Black, sharply defined eyebrows and high cheekbones frame eyes the brown-black color of richly brewed coffee. A prominent, straight nose set above expressive lips complete his dark-skinned face. Those lips quirk easily into a smile of one variety or another, though the expressions tend not to linger. Deep, dark brown eyes regard the world around him with mixed curiosity and wariness. He's also frequently brushing his thick black hair out of his eyes. It's straight, from those Native American genes, and is just long enough to get in the way without being long enough to tie back. At the moment his hair is loose around his shoulders.
He's not especially tall, about five and a half feet, but with the way he carries himself, he doesn't give the impression of being short. His build is the wiry one of youth, and that of someone who is in shape from exercise that comes from doing physical work. He is lean and muscular, his chest broader than might be expected, his waist and hips narrow, and he moves with deceptively languid grace.
Bryce is dressed in an assortment of borrowed clothes. A cream-colored, long-sleeved cotton shirt billows about his chest and arms, and has the baggy sleeves rolled up many times so his hands and wrists are free. Brown woven wool pants are heavily belted around his waist, and the cuffs are similarly rolled many times to allow his feet access to the ground. His sturdy brown leather boots seems to be the only things he's wearing that actually fit him, and he wears them comfortably. A long vest of the same material as the pants helps keep him warm and has a few pockets.
Danny stands just under six feet tall and moves with an odd grace that's difficult to categorize. It's not quite the artful manner of a dancer nor the economic movements of a trained warrior, still there's certainly something different in how he carries himself. Fit musculature on a lean frame gives him the look of a runner, and his clean and smooth features suggest a northern European heritage. He has well-defined cheekbones that lend a youthful cast which may belie his true age, while a losing battle with a five-o'clock shadow makes his otherwise friendly smile a little disreputable. His eyes are expressive and match colors with his wavy, full, chin-length hair: a deep dark brown that's only just this side of black. His arms and face have been tanned by long days in the sun, but an exposed portion of his collar line indicates he'd be far more pale if he spent some time indoors.
His clothing is casual and work-oriented: the shirt is a long-sleeved, heavy flannel button-up in dark grey, and is accompanied by a loose pair of dark brown, suede leather pants that have been tucked into his boots. The boots are calf-high and made of black leather, with exposed seams still holding together despite considerable use. A stamped silver coin bearing the triune horse symbol of Epona hangs around his neck on a silver snake chain.
The eye cannot help but to roam towards this Asian youth in his mid-teens... there's a striking, almost genderless beauty to his form and face that dances and burns like an ivory flame. Everything about him, from his pale, fair skin to his midnight hair to his clothing, speaks in monochrome: black and white, with an occasional flash of silver. His black eyes seem to reflect the outside world more than receive light, the obsidian irises and the onyx pupils differing in texture rather than shade. His clothing, businesslike and sensible, is a study in balance of color: his white button-up shirt seems freshly pressed, the thin black tie and jet-colored trousers well-kept. A silver watch-chain snakes from one beltloop into his left pocket.
Danny stirs, making a sound of annoyance and trying to bury his face in a pillow that's not really substantial enough for it. He lifts his head part-way and makes a face at his arm, then mutters under his breath and glances over at Bryce, blinking. "Hey," he says with a tired but happy smile.
The letter that Higami had been in the process of writing suddenly disappears as the door opens to admit Bryce; the very observant might notice fringes of parchment protruding from beneath a copy of Joseph Conrad's "The Shadow-Line", at the corner of Higami's desk. The pale young librarian swivels in his chair, in time to greet Bryce with a serene smile as he steps into the Library proper from the coatroom. "Why, good evening," he murmurs, somehow perfectly audibly yet softly. When Danny speaks up, he says to him in a slightly louder yet still subdued tone, "And good evening to you. Welcome back to this reality."
"This reality is getting weirder by the day," Bryce announces, winking at Danny. "But I think I can deal with it. I didn't really expect to find you here, Mister Higami, I was kinda looking for Danny. But since you /are/ here, could I ask you about something?" He grins a wide, hopeful grin.
Danny arches his back and tilts his head this way and that, seeking to relieve the muscles that are now registering complaints over improper sleeping arrangements. "Evening, Higami." He yawns once, more to cast off his nap than summon further sleep, and sits up properly. "Strange indeed," he murmurs, waiting to see what Bryce has to ask.
Higami raises his eyebrows very slightly at Bryce's statement that he did not expect to find Higami here, but says nothing. "Certainly you may ask," he responds in his erudite, vaguely Japanese-accented tenor.
Bryce glances at Danny briefly, then returns his attention to Higami. "Well, I dunno if you heard, but Danny wants to build a kiln. He and Justin asked me if maybe I could put together a pyrometer for them. I didn't think that the library here would have plans like that off-hand, and I was wondering if maybe you could order them for me," he says, his obvious enthusiasm for the project ramping up as he talks till his practically bouncing on his toes.
"A pyrometer, you say?" asks Higami with an air of polite interest. "OF course, I could procure the plans for you in a very short period of time... a few hours at most. I could procure the actual item, if you were willing to wait a few weeks. If you are certain you wish to build it yourself, you will need some special materials. The Guild's breakthroughs in superpolymers, such as the one currently over your head, have made the construction of pyrometers far more simple now, but a short wait would be required for the polymer. A more traditional pyrometer may be faster to build, but there will be rare elements there as well..."
The papers and books Danny had out rustle as he cleans up after himself, and he continues listening to Higami and Bryce. Despite his pre-occupation, he glances over at them occasionally, proving he is in fact paying strict attention.
Outside, there's the sound of a man's voice raised in cheerful song. "...never worry 'bout a thing, got the world on a string, 'cause I've got the cure or all of my blues... I take a look at my e-" The door opens, and the voice breaks off, as its owners takes in the unusual popularity of the room. "Well, hey, evening, people," Serendipity greets, startled, as he closes the door again behind him. "Book club meet t'night or something?"
Bryce blinks and looks up at what's over his head. "Oh," he says softly, then visibly tears himself away from examining the strange stuff. "I might have to look into that, since I didn't know it was an option. I was assuming I'd have to make it myself out of base elements and what alloys we could make with what we have, since, well, I wouldn't have any way to pay for special materials or a pre-made unit. I'd be interested in any technical data you'd have on the polymer itself, though. Chemical make-up and how it behaves under a given condition. I mean, assuming it's not trademarked or anything." He turns to peer at Ren warily.
"It is not trademarked," Higami says with a certain smile. "Nothing is trademarked within the Guild, although some things are regulated. But the polymer cannot be created as a mere chemical compound. It requires spiritual treatments and matter transformation. Weaver energies are bound into a 'type-less' set of molecules, which take on form based on a variety of factors. It requires such cross-disciplinary expertise that it is rare outside the Guild." Higami waits to address the newcomer until he has finished this remark, at which time he turns to face Serendipity. "Welcome to the Library," he states formally, bowing. "I am called Higami; Higami Ryumaru. If you desire assistance, I am at your disposal." He bows again and turns back to Bryce.
Before the new arrival has even fully entered the room, Danny's back stiffens and he becomes absorbed in some of the notes and scribbled designs on his sheets of paper. He glances up at Ren for a bare moment, then back down at the papers without a word.
Serendipity does not seem particularly bothered by the less than warm reception from Danny and Bryce; he flashes them each a friendly grin, but stops still at Higami's greeting, looking the man up and down in surprised appreciation. Then he sweeps a flamboyant bow in return, grinning again. "Pleased t' meetcha, Higami Ryumaru. Serendipity Jones, at your service. My friends call me Ren. =You= can call me any time you like," he returns, and straightens again, sliding his hands in his pockets and strolling toward the desk. "Y'know, I've been in here 'most every other day for weeks, and no one ever bothered to tell me there was actually a librarian. Let alone a gorgeous one."
Bryce blinks in surprise at Higami, but seems delighted anyway. "Spiritual treatments and matter transformation? That's great! Seems like the Guild has really taken technomagic to an industrial level, which of course says a lot about the socio-political climate of the more industrialized areas. Wow!" He seems about to go on, but restrains his bouncing and clears his throat, a little embarrassed. "Ahem. Anyway, yeah, sounds like great stuff, but I still couldn't pay for it. Justin can make small amounts of pure materials so we should be able to work with what we need from there and I can use whatever plans you can get me." He rolls his eyes at Ren's usual tricks and represses a snicker.
"No two 'industrial' areas are quite alike in our sundered world," Higami replies to Bryce. "Japan was lucky enough to be under the supervision of three geniuses of infrastructure during the Long Night, and although I will spare you the history lesson, the Japanese people were able to turn vampiric control into a symbiotic arrangement. So Japan is very progressive in many respects, including industrialization and hybrid technologies. And you seem to have a strange idea of what the Guild desires in return. The Guild does not operate on 'money'. Officially, the Guild takes trades only: barter is the system of the future, in our eyes. If you have nothing to trade, a promise of a future service with the kiln you need help to build would be sufficient; perhaps the Guild might need a particular shape of simple ceramic. You could provide a few pieces for some other hopeful entrepreneur who needs /your/ help. That is the new way of things." He then turns and bows yet again, after Serendipity's bow. "Higami alone will suffice, for the future, if you do not wish to say both of my names. And I am here most days, sir. If I am not in the Library proper, a knock on the basement door will often bring me upstairs. And thank you very much for the compliment," he says, smiling. "You are a very beautiful person also."
Danny narrows his eyes and can't help but track Ren's movement closely in his peripheral vision. "No problem making things in the kiln, Higami, especially in exchange for a good pyrometer. Justin's going to treat the bricks so I should be able to get higher temperatures without super-heating the surface." His voice betrays some of his tension, but his furtive glances at Ren suggest it has little to do with the librarian.
Serendipity listens to the explanation with idle interest, watching the pair -- well, mainly Higami, really -- as much as listening. "...mm. Smart, too. Thanks, lovely. Always nice t' be appreciated," he replies happily, grins remaining firmly in place. "...and I'll =definitely= remember to try knocking there." Dogs have been known to flirt more subtly. Then again, subtlety isn't everything. He shifts a little, and half-perches on the edge of the desk. "What're you building a kiln for, Bryce?"
Bryce blinks again at Higami, and again seems to like the surprise. "Okay, barter it is then!" he agrees cheerfully. "So how do I go about ordering a pyrometer from the Guild?" he asks, then turns a surprised look on Ren. "Why build a kiln? Hell, why not? You can make all /sorts/ of cool stuff with a kiln! Danny here is an actual artisan, you know. And really, I'm not building it, Danny and Justin are. I'm just muscle labor. And I guess the technology end of it, too." His wariness of Ren seems to have been swept away, for the moment, by his enthusiasm for the project.
Safi slips into the warmth and out of the snow, a gust of chilly air following her. She closes the door behind her and blinks several times at the relative crowd.
Higami withdraws a black laminated card from somewhere beneath his outer kimono, probably from a pants pocket, and taps it lightly three times. It begins to glow an aqua color and tiny letters appear in yellow at its edge: "COS V3.8 MCP E27 ROM: 4,990 TB Free RAM: 17 TB Free Connecting..." "You need do nothing except to tell me exactly what it is you require and to verbally agree to use the kiln you will be assisted with for the assistance of someone else in need as repayment, when asked to do so by the Guild. If you refuse to do a service in exchange once you have the part, you will be unable to conduct transactions with the Guild of Technology again. Do you understand?" At this point the glowing business card is scrolling information madly. Higami taps it idly every now and then, sending into new tizzies of scrolling data. He pauses to bow to Safi in greeting.
Danny gives up his scrutiny of Ren to register that Safi has come into the library, and is immediately sidetracked by Higami's card and verbal contract. He glances at Bryce, eyebrows raised slightly, and nods his encouragement in case it's needed.
Serendipity glances over his shoulder at Danny, when Bryce mentions him, then back to the cat-shifter. "Why not's a good 'nough reason for most things," he allows easily. "Just wondered if there was any =special= reason, y'know?" He brightens further at Safi's entrance, flashing her an even wider grin. "Heya, beautiful. Apparently this's th' place to be, tonight." Higami's little card catches his attention, then... one doesn't see things like that everyday. Well, unless one's Higami, presumably.
Bryce leans in towards Higami and his card, peeking at it. "Hmm, I guess it wouldn't hurt to get the plans, too. I could make a simple one just for fun." He looks up as Higami asks if he understands and nods enthusiastically. "I understand and do hereby agree to use the kiln to the assistance of the Guild whenever they require it. Oh, um, specifications. Something that'll be accurate from zero to three-thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Er, something digital would be nice and ooh! Er, you wouldn't happen to have something with a /laser/ would you? We used those back in the lab to measure temperatures, I remember." He turns around at Safi entering and waves cheerfully at her. "Hey, Safi. I'm ordering a pyrometer!"
Safi steps toward the desk to peer wide-eyed at Higami's device. She stares with eyes that have gone hazy. "Hello, Ren... and Danny and Bryce." Her gaze never leaves the object.
"And Higami," she adds, distractedly. "And you..." The last appears to be directed at the object.
Higami taps the card many times in a single second with amazing precision. When Safi addresses the card he is holding, a brief image of a spider with wings instead of legs pops up on the screen, looking strangely distorted... but that disappears quickly, replaced by a form of some kind, into which Higami begins plugging information with inscrutable teases of his fingertips. "Yes... digital, you say? Hmmm. Interesting. Zero to three thousand. Laser. Lasers are standard, according to this... temperature ranges up to 5800 degrees Fahrenheit. Digital readout is optional. Hmmm. No plans are available that would interest you, sir, unless you have an interest in spiritual and alchemical nomenclature as well as standard scientific symbols. It would require mastery of all fields to read correctly. However, a diagram of a classical pyrometer is available, and requires only scientific knowledge. Would you like one?"
Danny watches the card's antics with interest, listening to Higami's description carefully. He nods in satisfaction and begins closing up the books that have been lying open on his desk.
Serendipity watches as well, moving to be able to look over Higami's shoulder better, apparently fascinated by the thing. Well, mostly by the thing.
Bryce chews on his lower lip for a moment, caught up in indecision. "That sounds good," he says at last. "The one with the digital readout. And uh, yes I'd like the diagram of the classical pyrometer and..." he breaks off and fidgets, looking embarrassed for some reason. "And could I also get some texts on spiritual and alchemical nomenclature as relating to standard scientific notation? As a shifter I'm supposed to be able to manipulate spiritual energies, so I may as well learn. And I /know/ Justin would be interested in the alchemical parts." He glances at Safi, confused at her reaction to Higami's card.
"Justin maybe know ze alchemi-cal," Safi agrees. She is fascinated, stepping closer to see better, her eyes never leaving the thing.
Higami frowns slightly. "The amount of literature required to describe the spiritual/alchemical nomenclature is vast. Giving it to you in paper form would be a terrible waste. Perhaps I could interest you in a personal computer, such as this one?" he offers, holding up the card from Bryce to see. As it is held up, the image of the spider with wings for legs appears again flickeringly, distorted as if a magnet were run over an LCD image of the already-bizarre shape, and then flickers out.
"Thanks Higami," Danny says with a happy sigh. "If you--or the Guild--need anything, just let me know. I owe you plenty for all your help. There's not just the kiln, too, there's the wood and if we're lucky I might even be able to do glass in this one." He starts folding up the papers in earnest now, the top-most sheet displaying a Mimbres cranes design for black-on-white.
"...what's the spidery-wingy thing?" Ren enquires, looking from the card to Higami again.
"Er," Bryce says at Higami's offer. "If that would be easier, sure." He giggles, a little maniacally. "We're going to be doing a lot of work for the Guild, I think," he says to Danny. He doesn't seem the least bit upset about it though. In fact, he's already rubbing his hands together in anticipation of future projects. "Come on, let's go get Justin and tell him about it over dinner." He straightens up and bows to the assistant librarian in the best imitation of Higami's bow he can manage. "Thanks, Mister Higami. For everything."
Higami peers at the card. "That is a spiritual manifestation of the core control program," he responds to Serendipity. "It normally only manifests when called. From what I gather, something in the room called it, briefly, and it is lingering here." He touches several points on the card, and several rows of data appear, the last of which reads 'END OF LINE'. The spider does not appear again. "It seems to have left once again. The control program was given a soul by advanced spiritual processes and was allowed to fabricate a virtual body for itself as an icon. It chose a winged spider to represent, I suppose, the Pattern which constitutes its physiomental processes, but the wings represent freedom from such planes. I believe it is trying to make a statement about boundaries." He shrugs. "You will have to wait for a certain amount of time. I have placed the order, but only Kem may deliver it from the final macrodrop point. I will see about getting you some of the information you requested on a dedicated computer card. That may take some time; please come back at a later date for that. The pyrometer has been taken care of, and only shipping remains."
"The Guild of Technologies thanks you for your business," he ends, bowing to Bryce.
"How does he go... so fast, and--" Safi leans over the card to get a better look. "And he is so many places, at ze same time." She glances up to Higami, totally failing to follow some of the words; then she looks over to Danny and Bryce, and straightens. "Please say hello to Justin, for me, and I will come whenever you need, to... talk wis' ze plants and everysing."
"Mmmm, dinner. I'm starving," Danny murmurs, smiling dreamily. "Just give me a second..." He ferries his books back to their origins, then fetches his cloak from the coatrack and slips it on. The bow he gives Higami is unpracticed, but moderately graceful none-the-less. "We thank the Guild for being here to do business with. Sure thing, Safi."
Serendipity blinks, processing the explanation for a moment, and glances over to Safi, then the card. "Hi," he ventures to the thing, and waves lazily to Danny and Bryce as they make to depart.
Higami shuts down the card; its aqua glow still lingers hopefully as he slips it back beneath his kimono into some pocket with an impressive amount of dexterity. "Please speak to Kem about the requisition if you have a concern. The invoice number is JODI9983-LK," he remarks to Bryce and Danny as they head for the door. "Thank you again. Please refer to me if you have any further literary or technological needs, and have a good evening."
Bryce listens avidly to Higami's explanation of the spirit in the computer and once again stops himself from pursuing a tangent. He bows again to Higami, shoots a grin and a nod to Safi, then heads out with Danny.
Safi looks vaguely sad, as he puts the computer away. She looks to Higami, and then to Serendipity, and then back to the librarian. "Can I get more books from you?"
Higami nods. "Certainly. What may I help you find? You are always welcome to read books here, whenever you like. The sense crystals maintain the heat and visibility in the winter. And I have even placed one on the exterior! Merely turn this knob and..." Higami rotates a small knob on the outside of his own desk, and suddenly the room is bathed in a soft red glow as the snow trapped on the dark skylight above begins to glow a beautiful crimson. A small crystal on its opposite side can be dimly made out, casting its color through the snow and into the softly lit library.
Serendipity looks up, watching the light spill from the crystal, and the grin returns, delighted like a kid. "That," he decides, "is darkin' keen. Nice colour." He looks back to Safi then, arching an eyebrow. "You finished the last set, huh? Did you take the one Justin 'n' I showed you?"
Safi looks up, and draws in a breath, enchanted. Then she glances to Serendipity, and nods. "It is very good. Ze Toll-kin. But I am almost finish-ed."
"Tolkien? Would you like more fantasy? Or perhaps you would like to explore different fiction, such as science-fiction? Or perhaps non-fiction; history, mythology, science, the arts?" The red glow begins to shift until it is a nice citrus orange.
Tipping her head, Safi says, "May-be mythology," she says carefully, "and science and arts, yes. I change, from fiction, for a while."
"Well, I recommend the works of Geraldine Lee, in the 400 section, for mythology. She gathered the most meaningful and entertaining of all of the great recurring world myths and brought them together in a very thoughtful series of books which are both fun and enlightening. If you wish for something deeper, Joseph Campbell may be best. Mythology would be, I think, a fine transition from Tolkien to the non-fiction areas," suggests the assistant librarian.
Serendipity hehs. "I didn't mean the Tolkien, but still, good t'know." He considers a moment, listening to Higami's list. "How'd she know which myths were meaningful?" he asks. "I mean, entertaining, sure, but..." He looks mildly dubious.
Safi glances from one to the other. "Is not everysing meaning-full?" she asks. "Is all... human." Then she leaves them, to search for Higami's suggestions.
"Well, the meanings of myths often reinforce societal norms, or teach lessons specific to one time or place. She chose the myths which recur from civilization to civilization, era to era, and which reverberate with something in the core of humanity, as opposed to myths intended to /tame/ humanity into a particular, 'safe' mode of behavior. Of course, it is subjective." The light above becomes lemon-yellow.
Serendipity goes ahead and switches from perching to straight-out sitting on the edge of the desk, and glances up at the colour-shifting light, with a noncommittal "mmm." "...well, can't argue with emphasising the ones that aren't meant t' scare people into bein' drones," he grants, and glances back to Higami. "She pick many from this part of the world?"
Higami nods. "Some on the creation and deluge; some on animism; some on transmigration of souls; some on animals, humans and their environment. Of course, Native American mythology, which is what I am assuming you mean, is not as well-documented in remaining sources as more 'classical' Greco-Roman, Indian, Chinese, Judeo-Christian, or Islamic myths, but oral traditions are enough to merit a healthy say in the books. Why do you ask? Are you concerned about the representation of American myths?"
Safi pulls out one book by Campbell, and another by Lee, checking them out as the librarian taught her. She listens to them, following some of the conversation, and then gives Serendipity a little wave. "Thank you," she tells Higami, and then she wraps up the books in a stray bit of leather tunic before braving the elements.
Serendipity blows Safi a kiss as she departs. "G'night, beautiful," he calls after her, then returns his full attention to Higami, shrugging, with another grin. "Hey, just makin' sure we get our due," he replies lightly. "Can't say much for any collection if it hasn't got any love for Coyote, y'know."
Higami sits down in his comfortable librarian's chair. "And from which people, exactly, do you hail, sir?" he asks. The filtered light becomes emerald. Higami steeples his fine fingers, black-on-black eyes peering over the fingertips at Serendipity.
Serendipity twists his position, the better to meet Higami's gaze with his own onyx orbs. "All of 'em, prolly, depending how specific you feel like gettin'. We get around," he replies cheerfully. "But my =particular= people, we're the Children of Coyote. How 'bout yours, gorgeous? I mean, I'm assuming Japanese, but I've been wrong before..."
"Japanese, yes. That is the nation of origin of my most recent ancestors. But as you say, my particular people are a different matter indeed. I am not human, of course. Would you do me the honor of telling me of the Children of Coyote?" Higami asks politely, gesturing to a nearby beanbag and inviting him to sit.
Serendipity gets off the desk, obligingly, and drags the indicated beanbag over closer to the librarian before dropping inelegantly onto the cushion and getting comfortable. "Sure. Wanna join me down here?" he invites, flashing his pearly whites again. "I'm human, mostly. More's the pity. We haven't had any truebloods born since -- pretty much since the sun came back. Hell, we haven't even been able t' find the ones we already had, since then. I'm lookin' for 'em. It's my destiny," he declares, with a certain degree of pride. "...probably. Anyway. What d'you wanna know?"
"You say you are mostly human. How do you experience /not/ being human, if I may ask such a personal question?" Higami raises one pencil-thin eyebrow just a tad.
Serendipity grins. "How do I experience it? Same way I experience anything else, I s'pose. Enthusiastically," he replies, with an arched eyebrow of his own and a touch of teasing in his tone, then relents, "...or d'you mean, how'm I not quite?"
Higami nods. "Yes. That is what I mean."
Serendipity shrugs a little. "I've got Coyote's blood. I'm the closest thing to a true blood left in the world, far's we know," he replies casually. "He lent me a couple tricks. Nothing too unusual." His eyes remain on Higami, though not always on his face -- they roam enough to risk a slap from some people. "...but enough about me. What d' =you= think of me?" he inquires coyly, leaning forward a bit and batting his lashes saccharine-sweetly. There's a wicked grin trying very hard to escape.
Higami considers. "My impressions of you? Well, we have only just met, of course, and I doubt that I could tell you anything you do not already know about yourself. You are considerably beautiful, and your beauty is of a wild and free kind. You are closer to the Wyld than to the others in the Triat. You possess a great deal of sexual energy. You speak what comes to your mind without fear." He purses his fine lips briefly. "That is all I can surmise with any certainty thus far."
Serendipity drops back into the beanbag, laughing, still studying Higami closely. "I like you," he declares, "...you're interesting. And observant. And did I mention hot? So. What else did you want to know, then?"
"I suppose that the question most would want to ask you would be to ask how seriously you take yourself. I have heard tell of your rampant propositioning of people around town. Many might ask, with good cause, if such an attractive one as yourself might meet with /more/ success if such a one were a tad bit more /subtle/ with one's desires. But that is not the question /I/ would ask. I would ask nothing of you, Serendipity. You seem to have the mark of the Wyld all about you; and there are no questions I would ask that I believe would bring you happiness. May your hunting lead you to what you seek." Higami smiles amiably.
Serendipity rests an elbow on his knee, and his chin on his hand, and regards Higami thoughtfully. "Aw, it's not that rampant. And can I help it if the town happens to have way more than its fair share of hot people?" He grins again. "...So would I have more success with =you= if I went the subtle route?"
"Were I a young lady, then yes, perhaps it would," he replies. "But even were that the case, I doubt that you would do well to have me. My people have... strange gifts, when it comes to that. For your own health, I respectfully advise you to seek elsewhere for fulfillment." There is something coy in his voice as he speaks.
Serendipity tilts his head a little, studying Higami. "But you're not a young lady," he points out, "so maybe I oughta stick with this way, huh?" He gives the other man another full once-over, this one a different kind of appraisal. "...what kinda strange gifts do your people have?"
"You will be happier if you do not ever learn the answer to that," he answers. "But if you truly wish to know, perhaps when next we meet we shall talk more of it. For the moment, I must retreat to the basement to finish the pyrometer order for Mr. Bryce. It certainly has been a pleasure meeting you, sir. The heat and light crystals will remain on if you wish to make yourself comfortable and read a book on this snowy winter's eve." The light filtering through the snow of the skylight is now an ocean blue. "Please take care." He disappears down the stairs.