[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]

[ 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.