[closed] Fundamentals of Reading

[sommer]

Who: Anna sommer & Bolin sediments
When: Early in the month, before the trip to Gammon
Where: Caissa, Grand Library
What: Anna and Bolin dig deep into history!
Rating: None





[ It hasn't been a smooth day of studying and digging through archives; first they lost a bit of time with Anna trying to argue for Bolin about forgetting to return his overdue books, ultimately losing that argument, and now she's being disruptive by sprinting back and forth between the bookshelves. Every time she runs off, she comes back sliding back to the center of the room with stacks of books being slammed down on their table. ]

How's the reading going, partner? Look, I found more books!

[ Not all of them are relevant. ... In fact, many of them aren't about history, as she's having trouble finding those. Instead, it's mostly a collection of fiction and academic research.

And for some reason she's expecting Bolin to read most of it. ]

Comments

[sediments]

[ Unlike his brother, Bolin's not much of a reader. Neither of them had gone to school, and while Mako would jump at the chance to read and educate himself in everything he'd never had the chance to while growing up, Bolin had never been able to develop an interest.

But he'll read if there's a specific goal in mind, and he wants to help Anna. She's bright and cheerful, and after the loss of Korra and Adrasteius, Bolin is feeling needy for friendship.

He's not sure it's worth it. Currently, the earthbender is slumped over on the desk, forehead resting on a couple of books while others tower around him as if Anna is building some kind of tomb or prison for him.

His voice is muffled as he doesn't raise his head, ] Hey Anna? I thought you wanted to read more about history?

[sommer]

That's why we're here, Bolin! [ SLAMS ANOTHER PILE ] But we can read some... side material on our breaks, can't we?

...
I-Is it too much? Maybe I got carried away...

[sediments]

[ Breaks? What breaks?

He lifts his head to give her a confused look. ]

You must really like learning. [ He says earnestly, despite the fact that she hasn't read a thing yet. ] I don't think we'll get through it all today, but we could... come back?

[sommer]

I suppose we'd have to, I don't think they'd trust us with borrowing their books for a while, heh. [ She gives him a teasing smile. ] Well, one of us.

Did you find out anything interesting so far?

[ It sounds like a broad question, but one would be surprised by how low Anna's standards are for what qualifies as interesting. ]

[sediments]

[ Her teasing earns her a huffing frown, though he otherwise remains stoic and manly. So he's a little forgetful about library books! Nobody's perfect.

When he asks him what he's found however, he sits up, flipping the page of the book that he's got open. ]

I guess? [ Something that is related to history at least. ] So apparently there used to be these creatures called elves that lived in Enprise... I think they're technology was as advanced as Noir's right now? But they were all super smart about new inventions and using mana, until they disappeared.

[sommer]

[ Please... the only reason Anna can make fun of him is because she hasn't had the chance to forget returning her books. That day will come, it is promised.

But holy shit, that is interesting! ]

Elves?! [ Anna shoves a pile of the books away and sits across him, giving him her full undivided attention. ] What happened to them? How did they disappear? That's a lot of people to just go... you know... woosh.

[sediments]

[ Whoa, she's bouncy! Bolin starts a little in surprise when she zeroes on the topic, and he wishes he could give her more information. ]

I dunno, it says that there's no real information about what happened to them. [ Which Bolin also finds suspicious; an entire civilization doesn't just up and disappear like that. ]

One day they just.. [ He makes a poof gesture with one hand. ] Vanished. And now they're extinct—well... There are some theories that they learned to travel to better lands. Which I guess makes sense?

[sommer]

Do you think Noir might be using some of their inventions? If that's the case, perhaps we can learn how to prepare better if these books documented a few elven creations.

[ Whatever this "technology" is. Anna would even find a toaster too advanced. ]

[sediments]

[ He's absolutely floored by that, and just stares at Anna in awe. ]

I didn't even think of that. [ He sounds amazed, shaking his head so that he can address the question. ] Maybe?! They use magic... and war ships. But I haven't seen any fancy machines from them in battle.

[ But that doesn't rule out the possibility entirely and he turns to the book again. ]

They might though! It could be really powerful technology that they're saving as a trump card.

1/2

[sommer]

[ She feels so validated. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER-- ]

2/2

[sommer]

[ --wait, gotta focus. ]

Hey, why are Blanc and Noir fighting anyway? [ She had wondered about this before, but out of everyone she's comfortable to ask, Bolin has spent time here the longest. ]

[sediments]

[ Looking up from the book, Bolin's attention deviates entirely from thoughts about elves and their technologies. Instead, he puts a hand to his chin and heaves a sigh. ]

Well, apparently Blanc used to be part of Noir a long time ago, but because Noir used mana draining technology that was damaging the planet, a group inside their empire staged a rebellion and separated—that's Noir. I think there was peace? Sort of? After that rebellion, but there was always tension...

And now I guess Noir's trying to get Blanc back.

[ Like a bad romance. ]

[sommer]

Whoa-whoa-whoa, wait. Back up. If they know that this is hurting the planet, then why haven't they just... stopped? Are they gonna build another star for everyone, too?

...Actually, that would be pretty impressive.

[sediments]

[ Anna's got a point, and it's too bad that Bolin can't think of a reasonable explanation. Maybe there's one in the books? ]

I guess they don't care? [ He frowns. ] Or maybe... they think if they advance in technology they'll find solutions for the problems they created.

[sommer]

[ Solutions for the problems they created, huh? Anna looks away, thinking that particular phrase hits a little too close to home. Still, she maintains a hopeful smile. ]

Do you think they can?

[sediments]

[ It's a difficult question, and Bolin had never been particularly suited to the delicacies of politics, though his heart is in the right place. ]

I think they can if they really want to. [ He thinks back to their efficiency on the train, and the ingenuity of their attack on the Expo. ] They've done a lot of harm with efforts, so I don't know why they wouldn't be able to do the same amount of good with all their skills.

[ He scratches the back of his head as he leans back in his chair. ]

I guess it just depends on how much they sacrifice in terms of this world's resources on the way. They might go too far without realising.

[sommer]

It sounds like they already have... [ There's no coming back from killing innocents, is there? Anna doesn't need to be politically savvy to understand that much. ]

...
I heard rumours that their empress bathes in the blood of male virgins.

[ She says it calmly, not to freak Bolin (???) out. ]

[sediments]

[ Anna, what the hell.

Bolin just stares at her, floored by that information before he mumbles: ] Glad I'm not one, I guess—

Wait. [ He gives a slightly sceptical look. ] There's no way that's true! You can't just kill people like that.

[sommer]

Oh, Bolin! [ Anna tries to hold back a giggle as she dismisses his first comment. That's a funny joke! ]

You have nothing to worry about - I don't think it's true either. In fact, I suspect they're saying the same sort of things about us. Me, bathing in virgin blood, can you imagine?! But don't. Please don't.

[sediments]

[ She’s laughing… But he hadn’t even told a joke. His eyes narrow as he tries to figure out what she finds so funny, when she assures him that she doesn’t think it’s true either. ]

Rumours about you specifically? [ He’s not really sure what to make of this, but he gives her an assessing stare. ] Do you have a thing for blood or something?

[sommer]

[ You know what, she's just going to throw a book at him for that. ]

Yeah, it's my drink of choice. [ SARCASM ] Less speculating and more reading, Bolin!

[sediments]

That's dangerous!

[ Even though he'd caught the book without much trouble. He smiles at her anyway, looking over the text he has in front of him before closing it and picking up another one, this one more specifically about Blanc after its separation from Noir. ]

What's got you so interested in history anyway?

[sommer]

[ Whoa, cool reflexes! ]

Why wouldn't I be? I can't just blindly participate in a war I know nothing about.

[ That would be like getting engaged to someone you hardly know, and she'd like to think she learned something from that Huge Mistake. ]

[sediments]

[ He's a little surprised by that answer. ]

That actually makes a lot of sense. [ It's enough to get him to focus at least, really looking at the text in front him and settling down for a good read.

Not that any of this includes being silent though. ]

I wonder if we have a choice about participating though? I mean, we're sort of at the mercy of the authorities here.