[Wright Memorial Library] No! (Hadrian)

[Leigo]

oocStamp as you see fit. Back towering over one of the unoccupied tables, Leigo did his best to study what little he could still remember from a single lecture Anaya gave him. Summoning could do this, it could do that, it could… heavens why was world magic so farfetched and complicated. Reimancy was easy, fun too, you see something and you burn it. Yes, nice and easy. In front of him lay a strange scripture concerning certain summoning venues, but whoever wrote it seemed more clueless than him. Finally stopping over a line he found particularly amusing, Leigo laughed perhaps too loud because he could hear pst sounds randomly throughout the room. One line on familiars and it barely even touched upon them. Pathetic and ignorant, the book wouldn’t teach him anything. He would most likely need to reestablish his contacts with Anaya when an appropriate time rose up again. She would probably understand him missing out on seeing her mostly, but it never hurt to check up on things. To the right, there was a much more specific book. It pertained to the art of auristics and all its majestic applications. Some know-it-all Rudolph Greenberg wrote it and while it was information heavy, the one thing it lacked was the one Leigo actually needed. As good as he was with books, the blond just couldn’t figure out a way to ‘see through the colored spyglass of djed’ and use that sorry excuse of an explanation. At that point the book had been resting under his elbow, completely forgotten for the moment. Onuo’s comments on how useless human intelligence was only occupied him further, directing his attention elsewhere. The familiar was seated safely at the center of the table, so it wasn’t any wonder when the creature forewarned him of yet another unfriendly encounter. Another one’s coming. The creature’s voice mechanical after so many people had tried to take the book away from them. A professor? Leigo’s interest spurred only for a tick. No, another student – a well dressed one this time… you know you could learn a thing or two about style from this man. Come on, just look up! completely disregarding Onuo, the boy kept examining the text in hopes of discovering something worthwhile. The sudden ‘ahem ahem’ stopped him in his tracks. Without waiting for him to respond in any manner, the interruption spoke in a slick voice. No doubt a son of one of the new merchant princes, or at least related to a city official. “Excuse me sir, but I couldn’t help but notice the book I’ve been inquiring about for days now is indeed in your possession.” Without raising his eyes from the text, Leigo poked. “And?” a gasp or a sigh, whatever it was, the other man seemed to slowly lose his patience around the blond. He had that effect on people often, but never really figured out why was it they became so flamboyant. “And you’re not even looking at it! So may I please have it for the time being?” the voice was somewhat more uptight than before, but it still didn’t impose. The sitting boy found the whole thing rather amusing. Still not considering this intruder deserving of proper eye contact, he replied calm. “Well that’s not very polite!” he exclaimed in a low threatening voice. “I might not be looking at the book, but I’m still using it” pausing, Leigo smiled to himself before he added “much like I’m not even looking at you yet we’re having a conversation.” If the newcomer did anything other than growl as he left, the blond did nothing but ignore it. Getting back to the script, he got interrupted by Onuo this time. It wouldn’t have hurt you to be more polite to that boy! Cold and criticizing as usual, but that was Onuo for you. Yeah, I’m sure his father will hear about this…

[Hadrian]

49th Summer, 512 A.V. Hadrian looked over his shoulder. He didn't sense any librarians nearby, and yet he felt as though he shouldn't summon memosites from Swalden's rings in the library. There was always the chance something could go wrong, and it would be easy enough to follow up on that thought in his office or at home. There were books laid out before him in a pattern that he, at least, understood, researching multiple topics at once. His mind liked to jump hither and thither quite a bit. He mumbled to himself when he couldn't find any leads on the practice of Webbing that didn't involve initiation by some Drykas shaman. Zephyrus Shadowrunner had held the prize before him years ago, and then snatched it away. But if Hadrian met a web mage now, he would just have to hypnotize the secret out of him or her. And then hypnotize the memory of it away... Hm. He realized he would probably have to go into the special collections to find help glyphing something that would maintain a larger Voiding portal than he could manage on his own, but here was something he didn't know about Leeching. Ah, perhaps that would help him magecraft a filter that could leech djed out of the environment and convert it into something usable that would not prove detrimental to the wizard's health. One did what one could if one couldn't create stormgems. That captain en route to Zeltiva from Sunberth had been awfully impressive with his command of the winds. The hours had passed, and Hadrian's stomach began to growl. Rather, it had been growling and now it was approaching a roar, but he was too focused in his research to even notice; this was one reason why he couldn't keep any weight on him.

[Leigo]

Something else got Leigo’s attention this time. Strangely it wasn’t something Onuo could forewarn him about. Instead it was a sound that bore messenger to a smell he couldn’t discern. Shifting his head around, eyes closely knit in irritation, the blond searched for the source of this racket. It wasn’t surprising when he couldn’t find anyone in a couple meters radius around him. People here had gotten the hang of how to stay clear of him lest they not get into each other’s way. You heard that, didn’t you? Yes. Which way? To the left! Turning his gaze in the opposite direction first, he could see only one man to the right, and somehow Leigo regretted it hadn’t been easier to pick out the individual who just… AND IN A LIBRARY! There were close to a dozen students with their noses in books or other people’s business on the left however. Going through them one by one, Leigo wrote them off. Too nervous, too quiet, too shy, a girl… and there he was. It must have been him as Leigo could notice him mumbling at a mind boggling distance. Surely if that man had even produced their gassy demise, he probably wouldn’t have even noticed. Or he just knew better than to claim responsibility and flee the premises. Something inside the blond wanted to yell at this stranger, but he knew that would get him nowhere, hell, the man would probably think he was yelling at someone else. Picking up Onuo in one hand and the auristics book in the other, the boy proceeded to the table where this mumbling character was located. Pulling out a chair with his foot, he set his book atop one of the other man’s and Onuo was soon resting on it too. Usually Leigo knew just how important personal space was and wasn’t the one to waste time arguing about it, but the stranger had ticked him off enough to disregard his more polite self. “Hey there!” starting off louder than he needed to, Leigo wanted to get the man’s attention first. “Do you usually fart in libraries?” a bit more quiet this time, however still loud enough for a couple of nearby readers to giggle. Great! Just great! Hi, I’m Leigo! Do you usually fart in libraries? WHAT is wrong with you, boy?!... And you didn’t even introduce yourself! Onuo criticism came as both a surprise and amusement. Smiling to himself briefly, he turned his gaze away from the familiar in order to restart this glare.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was vaguely aware of the auras surrounding him; it was only second nature now to have his senses somewhat open, especially when his conscious mind would be otherwise occupied. But there was a blond young man in his face, a good looking one, which always set his teeth on edge. And he was smirking or something, and then his words began to sink in. "Pardon?" he asked mildly, though there was the hint of something in his voice that bespoke the seeds of offense being taken. Brought up from the depths of the books he was plumbing, he realized that he was hungry. This was probably the Zan of his class, sure of himself, cruel to others when he thought it would get him somewhere; but Hadrian was no longer a student to be cowed by the more popular. He would put this one in his place, take his books to his carrel, and then go get something to eat. Really, people had no manners anymore.

[Leigo]

Leigo’s brow quirked up at the irritating reply but he just sighed and looked to Onuo in hope of something calming him down. Looking back to this smug male in front of him, the blond finally managed to discern some details. He dressed well enough, his accent pointed to a native and finally there was his stuck up nature – likely a side-effect of good breeding. Nodding towards Onuo, he settled down somewhat before the creature could rage again. So this man who couldn’t have been older than him wanted to play dumb. Sure, Leigo would enjoy acting the part. “Excuse the straightforwardness” he started “how very rude of me.” Each word coaxed in sardonic undertones, the boy went on. “I was just wondering if you could try and keep your bodily acoustics in check while the rest of us are trying to study?” trying to have that innocent ‘I don’t understand what’s wrong’ look, it surely couldn’t fool anyone. But then again, did it even need to?

[Hadrian]

Hadrian was aware enough of his body to tell the difference between a belly growling for sustenance and mere flatulence, but apparently this haughty fuck didn't. Anger made his flesh tingle with djed eagerly answering his unspoken call; that alone made him force a calm upon himself. Magic was dangerous at the best of times, but it was reckless to practice in a fit of pique. He frowned, thought for a moment, and then smiled. "How would you like your library privileges revoked?"

[Leigo]

Something about the other boy amused Leigo more than he would’ve liked to admit. However his next words unnerved the blond a bit. That guy wanted to threaten him? Resisting the urge to laugh in the man’s face, Leigo wondered just who Hadrian was. As unfriendly as he was usually, no one threatened him with being booted from the library before. Curiosity mixed with some of is more cautious features took lead. “I suppose I wouldn’t be overly fond of that thought” whoever this man was, Leigo wasn’t smart enough to leave just yet “What of it?” He was certainly a local, but Leigo had never seen him before. And only someone actually influential would’ve tried to intimidate like that. Still, not much was certain.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian nodded at that. He wasn't really skilled at threats or dick-measuring contests; there was little that could rile him up to the point where he felt the need to engage in such activity, but really, this one. For a moment he considered hypnotizing the student into returning to his studies and not bothering anyone, especially Hadrian, but he didn't do it just yet. Nobody had out and out told him not to hypnotize students, but it did call up ethical questions. Of course, it would not harm him, so according to the harm principle, it was a perfectly reasonable course of action. But he disliked conflict, making threats, and he hadn't even intended to do so. It had just come out like an instinctual reaction. He sighed and waved the student off, choosing to ignore him in favor of his own books. Just a few more minutes, and then he would go and get something to eat and his stomach would stop its occasional demands for sustenance. Or, more likely, he would lose track of himself and his stomach would grow weary and quiet down until the next time he was conscious enough to deal with it.

[Leigo]

Giving the boy another decent look, Leigo was neither scared nor bored just yet. The stranger seemed to want to shoo him off through ignoring him, but the blond wasn’t one to react to such simple messages. Instead he looked at Onuo once more without saying a word and then he turned to this other guy. He had something ask him still. “You’ll excuse me again, but what made you so certain you could deny me entrance to the library?” he stopped weighing words “Only someone with actual pull would’ve tried that – but what makes you so sure you’d be able to do it?” the tone wasn’t arrogant anymore (not that Leigo had turned over a new page), but the curiosity remained.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian really wasn't the sort who relished bandying influence about. He knew that he could have this one banned from the library should he so desire, or he could warp the student's mind at will. All he really wanted, though, was to study in peace, and he assumed everyone else present wanted the same thing, so he couldn't understand why he was making a scene. "I'm trying to read," he pointed out. "What will it take for you to go back to your books and leave me alone?"