synflux | [CLOSED] The March of the March

[ March has been all over the place today, as she'd fully intended, because there's nothing worse than spending a special day by yourself. And sure, it's not like everyone from the Astral Express is here, but there are people who have been letting her pester them (or, she believes, grace them with her presence) and she's had fun with it.

But this is a quieter bit of downtime, evidenced by the fact that she is, in fact, alone right now as she enters the library, trusty camera at her hip.

Or she thought she was alone, but as she hears what sounds like the movement of books being fussed with, her brows furrow lightly and she heads towards the sound. ]

Hello?

[ This library is a neglected space, from the lighting and chairs to the books that it contains. The collection of items on these shelves, as Yesod has discovered, is not especially informative — still, he has paid the location a few visits by now. Malkuth's summary of Angela's Library remains on his mind. Most likely, it's quite a different place, even if it includes floors dedicated to the arts and literature, and no amount of cleaning would scrub away the blood that stains it.

Yesod slides another book back into place on its shelf, reaching for the next, cloth in hand to wipe down its cover. It's then that he catches the sound of footsteps approaching, followed by the voice calling out nearby. A glance over his shoulder confirms their owner's identity.

They aren't April May and Iunius Quintilis today, and Yesod assumes that March may be searching for someone. ]

Yes?

Oh, hey!

[ No, apparently not, given that recognition brightens her eyes when she spots him. She even steps closer to offer him a cheerful wave. ]

Sorry, I've gotten used to hardly anyone being up here, so I was surprised to hear something. So it was you! Umm...

[ ... His name wasn't... ]

... Yesod, right?

[ It's an unexpected reaction — March looks genuinely pleased to catch sight of someone she recognizes. More specifically, it's rather unusual to be the recipient of that type of friendly greeting. It reminds Yesod somewhat of Malkuth's energy, though hers has seemed more restrained in some ways here, for several reasons.

While he doesn't wave, nor does his expression change, he responds with a nod, simultaneously in greeting and as confirmation in turn to answer March's question. ]

Correct.

[ He moves to face March fully, allowing her to see the cloth and the current book plucked from the shelf beside him. ]

This library may contain a limited selection of items, but that doesn't justify keeping it poorly lit, as well as in need of thorough cleaning. That said, if you've come here to read, I'll wait.

[ As austere as ever, this guy. Which March is more or less used to, so she doesn't bother commenting on it, instead glancing at the book and the cloth he's holding.

Ah.

She shakes her head, still smiling. ]

You were here first. Besides, I like cleaning--maybe I can help?

[ Cleaning books is a lot easier than cleaning the entire Astral Express from the inside out. This is hardly anything in comparison. ]

[ March is used to tidying up at this point, though helping clean the interior of the Astral Express continued to be different than the work she was doing here. Still, she knows she won't be all that useful when it comes to tending to patients, not like someone like Natasha would have been.

Maybe she should look into that healing thing Yuji mentioned, but...

Well, right now, she's got other things to focus on, and it's changing linens. Very important duty.

Honestly it had gotten less exciting after the third bed and she's decided to make less trips, which is why Wriothesley might not recognize the person beyond the pile of sheets heaped high in her arms and obscuring most of her from view. She can't even tell much of where she's going, pausing uncertainly at the sound of footsteps. ]

Um.

Whoever you are, you'd tell me if I was about to bump into you, right?

[ Would he tell her…..that's a good question.

The footsteps come to a stop close by, and there's a suspiciously long stretch of silence (like six seconds or so) before someone finally replies. At least it's a familiar voice. ]

Of course. I'd rather not send both you and your sky-high pile flying. Need a hand?

[ He doesn't wait for an answer, instead leaning forward to neatly cut that pile in half. These are his linens now. ]

Why not make more trips? Less risk of running into someone else that way.

[ And there she is, suddenly visible!

Amazing, he's a magician. ]

But it's faster this way. And you could consider it training. You know, like dodging someone without having to see them!

[ She would not have dodged, she would have gloriously collided, but it's fine. ]

[ Yeaahhhhh no, he's not convinced. ]

Maybe if we weren't surrounded by patients in need of a hand.

[ Technically there's only like three people in for treatment now, but the point remains. What if she'd collided with someone and sent them both tumbling to the ground and added yet another injury to the pile? ]

Do you turn everything you do into training? [ That's dedication if so. ]

Only if it's not fun.

[ Well, at least she's honest. ]

But it'd be nice if I got a little cooler for doing the necessary stuff, even if it's boring, right?

[ The offer is quite unexpected as well. Cleaning is a productive activity, satisfying as a process and in terms of the results to accomplish, but most people probably wouldn't choose to fill their free time with it unless it becomes necessary. Then again, perhaps March herself would prefer to read less dusty books, given the choice.

Yesod's gaze rests on the young woman's cheerful features a moment longer, contemplative, before he indicates a small pile of spare cleaning cloths set aside to replace any used ones that are too coated in grime. ]

I appreciate it, then. Assuming that this is the section that you intend to browse through, it shouldn't take us long to finish cleaning each row of books on these shelves.

Got it! Then let's get to it!

[ She's moving swiftly to acquire one of the cloths, returning to the books to pick one up. The layer of dust blankets the cover and she wrinkles her nose. ]

Geez, they don't care about this place at all, do they?

[ Kind of surprising that a place like this exists in the first place. ]

I think you're pretty cool already.

[ Because....she uses ice, get it........haha. No, but she is also pretty cool all on her own. Where's the linen cabinet anyway, he's gonna start heading there to drop off this load of fabric. ]

Is there something specific you're trying to improve at the moment?

[ Other than seeing how many loads of laundry she can carry in one go. ]

[ March's enthusiasm seems genuine, too, despite her subsequent reaction to the state of the first book that she takes from the shelf. Yesod regards the item — and March's fingers holding it between them. He casts her expression another glance. ]

It struck me as odd that they keep it in place, yet neglect its maintenance, given that they make use of robots to tend to the greenhouse, for example. Regardless of the technology available in this world, some people might enjoy reading physical books.

[ After a brief pause, Yesod gestures at March's hands. ]

...I would advise wearing gloves and a face covering, by the way.

[ Unlike him — though it occurs to him that the cloaking device appears to address even this — March does need to breathe and shouldn't breathe in all of this dust while they work their way through each shelf. ]

Mmm...

My sense of balance, maybe? [ Well, he just called her cool, so she looks like it's embarrassing to admit this as she walks with him with her own armful. ]

It'd be sort of nice to be more graceful, but I'm not exaaaactly at that point yet.

[ Trips more than anyone else on the Express except maybe Pom-Pom. ]

Mm... those aren't exactly easy to come by here. I guess I could check around the base to see what they've got in the way of cleaning gear.

[ No cute aprons, probably. Bummer. ]

What about you, though?

[ Where's your face mask, sir. ]

[ If only there were cute aprons for them because that would be amusing... Yesod considers the question, however, wondering whether anything not LILITH-issued would fail to interact with the cloaking technology. They might find out soon enough. ]

...Both of us could search for possible options, in that case.

[ Never mind that his concealed body has the appearance of something almost completely masked as it is. He'd meant to clean its exterior surfaces and appendages later, but it would actually be preferable to minimize his own exposure to the library's accumulated dust, with any luck. ]

Then book-dusting, temporarily adjourned! Next stop, cleaning supplies!

[ Sorry that she's grabbing his wrist to tow him after her. Terribly sorry. ]

[ Graceful.... ]

In a fight, you mean? Or just in your every day life?

[ Nothing wrong with either. ]

Both! It's definitely both.

[ March does her best. ]

I guess I do a little better in fights, though.

[ HMMMMmmmmMMMMMmmm..... ]

Have you tried taking dance lessons? I hear they can help with dexterity and grace.

Dance lessons??

... I've never tried... do you know how to dance, Wriothesley?

I don't.

[ Why is he saying this with such confidence and good cheer right after he suggested she take lessons? Who can say. Don't mind him as he starts putting the linens away though now that they've reached the closet. ]

I can't say I'm particularly graceful either. There's more emphasis placed on balance and strength when it comes to boxing. Sure, good footwork helps too, but it's more of a bonus than a requirement.

...

[ She's thoughtfully quiet for a few seconds. ]

So what you're saying is you could benefit from a lesson, too...

[ Is that what he's saying ]

[ That's not even close to what he said, hello. ]

I don't mind being graceless, actually. I haven't tripped over anyone yet so I think I'm doing alright for myself.

[CLOSED] The March of the March

Yesod. (March 7th)

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