RP:The Things You Do for a Good Book

Summary: While taking a break from his herbal studies by contemplating the flowing peace of The Vibrance, Thamalys is approached by the mischievous Lycidas. Following a brief discussion about ageing and herb lore , the Death Knight discovers soon enough that the Avian, totally unaware of the true identity and corrupted intents of the Immortal, could be of some use to him. In the end, the two seal a deal by which Thamalys will have the chance of adding some rare book to his precious library - in exchange for keeping record of Lycidas' errands in the context of some bigger, utterly evil plan of his.

Larket: Riverbank

Thamalys sit a stone's throw away from the billowing liquid mass of The Vibrance. Literally, in fact, as he was presently intent on tossing a not-so-tiny pebble toward the swirling entropy of the river. Oddly unconcerned with the oozy mud of the bank, the willowy, graceless form of the Avian rest on the very ground, his black leather pants already soiled beyond decency. For some miracle, the white, loose shirt hanging loose on his chest would still preserve its original colour, although the same could not be told about the lower edges of his massive wings, neatly folded and yet so disproportionate if compared to the skinny features of Thamalys. The solid blue of his gaze nailed onto the water nearby, the many ivory braids on his head would keep dancing, neatly, following the slow swaying of his head, much as the spiralling pattern of the ivy tattooed on most of his skin, the other-worldly blue of the ink contrasting sharply with the paleness of his bony shapes. So deeply buried in his own thinking he was, a dragon plunging in the river close by would have probably gone unnoticed.

Lycidas was done for the day, having finished all the tasks he’d set out to complete. He had finally gotten himself a decentish layout of the encampment he wanted to try and storm.. Though, whether possible at this point or not? He was unsure.. Perhaps a second look might have provided better insight. “Done with work, yes?” The man spoke to himself, chiding himself, he’d been doing naught but business for the last week and finally a moment to relax would not go amiss. As he approached the relaxing scene of The Vibrance, well, relaxing in that most things did not thrive nor venture to approach, so more like lonely and lacking others to disturb him. And just when he thought he’d be alone he spotted the other, sitting there, not bothering the world, just lost in his own thoughts. The mountain of a man, standing at 6’8 and having a body that took years of dedication to build, found that he could share this lonesome space with another, for now. He took a seat nearby that of the stranger, “What has you so lost to come here?” His aged face turned towards the other, seemingly friendly, for when Thamlys turned to spot the giant vampire, once human, he’d see a stranger who appeared to be in his late 40’s and was rather oddly pale..

Thamalys eventually shook his head, a bit too sharply, maybe, in answer to the rather unexpected voice coming into being so close. Resting his weight on both hands, those as well immersed in the ooze at this stage, the Avian turned not without an hint of scarcely concealed surprise to the massive shape near by. "Lost?" he started, his lips curving into a broad smile already, "It seems I must really look like such, these days. But for one time at least, lost am I not, Sir. I am staying at the House of Ara, that building you might see over there" he continued, pointing with his bony finger to something up the hill. "Is maybe there where you were heading to? You seem a bit... pallid, shall we say? Is everything in order? I would be glad to accompany you - if you'll let me, that is - so that the skilful hands of The Healers can maybe take a proper look at you?"

Lycidas had to hold back a chuckle as the other offered to heal him of his pale ways. He was fine, that was something he didn't need to offer the other so openly though, "No, I am fine, I have no need for a healer nor was I intending to visit the house on the hill. I simply came here to get away from society and the world that demands so much constantly.. I find, breaks are healthy when you get older.. Or hell, when you're young too." He looked down at the muck the two were in, "They could use some benches here.." He mumbled under his breath, "And so, young one, what has you out here on this day?"

Thamalys nodded slowly, his eyes never really ceasing to stare at the somehow unusual complexion of his interlocutor. Something queer bothered him, but at this stage he would have just shook his shoulders, and on he went. "Oh. Oh, yes, I suppose a bench would have helped..." he conceded, as if suddenly aware of the fact that most of his clothes were now soaked and really rather far away from any standard of decency. Then, a swift change in his voice would have followed, a playful tone surfacing from the usually austere features of his ivory face: "Young one you called me, and yet chances are I will be so much older than you..." -|- Around a century, you silly! Don't you remember? -|- an angry voice will interject within Thamalys own thoughts, taking away in a split second that cheerful tone. "Anyway, since you ask, I came here to take a break from my ponderous readings... do you happen to know anything about herbs, Sir? Let me tell you one thing: there are many, out there. And studying them means to stuff into your mind so many names one can easily lose himself. Take just the poisonous ones: Hyacinth, Narcissus, Daffodil, Oleander, Larkspur, Nightshade... I could go on for some hours... hence the river..." he concluded, happily gesturing toward the flowing water, "... which seems to sooth my thoughts and give me some... peace. Yes, I suppose so... peace."

Lycidas played along with the other, not going to dismiss the other’s reason, because for as long as the other believed he was but a human, there was no need for the man to correct him otherwise. “Ahh, yes, my apologies, you’re correct in that matter. I must have forgotten that your young are much older than I.” He moved about in the mud, making himself more comfortable, and finally stopped fidgeting, “Do you have issues controlling your train of thought? Do they seem to take over and make it hard for you to do anything else?” The man seemed intrigued about the other’s thought, “You’re having issues with this it seems, is that why you come here?” he may have spoke to soon.

You considered briefly the last words of the Immortal, gazing for a little while into the spiralling patterns carved by the water upon the ever-moving riverbed. Did he have any reason to keep the truth from a perfect stranger? Maybe, maybe not. So lucky, up to now, to have encountered only kindness along his way - at least from that direful day on the Cliff - he eventually decided to spit it out. "Keen indeed, Sir. Yes, you are right. As a matter of fact, I can remember very little of my past, and that is the reason why I came - well, I was brought to, in fact - to the House of Ara. The river helps... a tiny bit. But it is the care of The Healers that is making a real difference..." He paused for yet another moment, shifting his weight slightly from leg to let. Despite the fact he was allowed to walk away from the House, he did not feel the urge to, the amazing amount of knowledge contained in library being such a strong motivation for him to spend the whole day and good part of the night reciting those endless lists of herbs, and infusions, and tinctures, and the Wind alone knew how many of other forms one could try to bend nature to one's will. The Vibrance only had the power to call him away from the that massive black book he was trying to digest, still wide open on the bare wood of his desk. "But I am forgetting my manners, Sir. I am Thamalys, if you will, at your service. That much, my name, that is, I still remember." A graceless bow - performed with the upper half only of his skinny body, would have followed, the gigantic shape of the Avian's wings twitching vaguely, as longing to be unfolded. "May I be so bold to ask for yours?" An hint of concern would drip from his words, realising to have talked possibly a bit too much, as per usual...

Lycidas found himself enjoying the others company, regardless how odd it might be. The other was certainly damage, strange, and seemingly filled with memory issues but he was friendly and interesting too. “Lycidas Nazek, ex-Knight of Cenril, veteran of wars, and some other random titles that would be far to long to continue going on with. So, other than utilizing the list of herbs and poisons out there, what else do you use to distract yourself?” He began to think of what he might offer the child… Then it clicked, “Do you memorize everything you read? Like, if I brought you a list of times, schedules, and such? Could you memorize it?” Oh yes, mayhaps this youth before him might be an asset! Though, he wasn’t truly a child physically.. His mind definitely seemed like one, “Because, I could bring you a mountain of books with information that would be fun to memorize!”

Thamalys listened carefully to the rather queer inventory of titles boasted by the Immortal, and even more cautiously to the odd proposition of the latter, slightly inclining his head so that most of his pearly braids would have lazily followed. "ex-Knight? Well, I guess that would be material for a whole story itself, would it not? And concerning lists and records and catalogues and such... why, yes, I believe I can be considered fairly talented in storing quite a lot of information in a brief amount of time... what sort of books do you have in mind?" One thing would have thrown Thamalys off balance, and there it was: books. Oh, he loved them so much. Tiny ones with frail, light pages, or huge, ancient tomes covered in leather and dust... he did not care, he cherished them all. And thus he continued, so eager to know, so hopeful to be able to enlarge his collection - albeit temporarily, who would have cared?

Lycidas couldn’t help but find himself happy with the child’s enthusiasm, though he began to realize he may have to be careful of what he says. “Ahh yes, I retired, to many years with the Cenrilli guard and amongst their knights that after such a long period of time.. Finally, it was at that point in my life that I quit. No longer did I need the fame nor glory, I was ‘to old’ they said.. And after all, it was time for me to move on to the next stage of my life, management.” Which brought the man to his next point, “Do you like stories? I’m sure with a brain like yours you can literally live within the pages, fully knowing the stories, the characters as realistic to you as others even?” He played up the stories and the books, “And if that’s the case, maybe I can bring you some of these books.. And, if you don’t mind, maybe I can take you with me someday to read someone else’s books.. I simply need you to remember what’s inside of them and tell me after we leave.”

Thamalys frowned upon the Immortal's words twice: firstly, after having heard that tale of his being labeled as 'too old', despite the fact that the massive chunk of meat near by could not have had more than fifty years, surely? And secondly, at the details of the most dubious business of reading in order to report to... him? -|- You have to be the stupidest creature I have ever encountered, you feathery mess of silly thoughts! -|- And more, would have that voice told, if only Thamalys would have allowed. But that was not the case indeed, the Avian determined to keep that disturbing detail under control - for now. And thus he agreed, for at this stage nothing to lose he had - he thought confidently. "I... do like stories, sure! I am not so keen on journeying, these days - in fact, I am not sure I will even be allowed to - but I would be more than willing to start! I mean, having a look at those books of yours! Would it be possible for you to bring them to the House sometime soon? Or somewhere nearby, I can leave my rooms for a while, and I suppose that as long as I stay in Larket I should be fine... would that work for you, Sir?"

Lycidas was listening to the kid, while gears turned in his head. Ideas rolled through there, sorting them like a machine, as he began to think of the possibilities that could come from such a useful person as this. “I will most certainly attempt to bring you many stories.. Have you read any from the distant libraries of Rynvale or Cenril? What kind of stories would you like the most? And, that’s all for you. And, once you’re better, I shall bring you with me to memorize other kinds of books! In fact, maybe I’ll bring you scraps of paper I’ve written things down on to memorize things for me as well..” Could he utilize this person as his own personal book or to steal other people’s information? Because, that’d be so nice rather than having to cook books on his own.. And if all it cost him was the occasional trip to other cities libraries? Not such a bad gig.

Thamalys nodded, submerged within a mixed feeling of excitement - after all, he could have had the opportunity to get some more book, and from places too far away from him to reach at the moment! - and concern, the bigger picture still failing to make his way into his battered mind and yet a persistent feeling of something misplaced constantly edging his thoughts. As if to collect his wits, he would have stood, cleaning as much as possible his clothes from the dirt, with a single, elegant move, the hidden curtain of his wings still neatly folded on his shoulders. "Ah, Rynvale... literally anything you could bring me from that place would be much appreciated indeed. And sure, if you want me to keep in mind something for you in exchange, I guess that can be done, gladly, in fact." Something vaguely resembling a smile would have cracked his lips, now, while in a slightly lower voice the Avian concluded. "But I am afraid I must go now, Lycidas of The Many Titles, as I can imagine the Healers would be looking for me already. Just a novice I am, I do not want to try their patience. But I will eagerly wait for your news. Just come at the House, or let a notice for me there, and we shall meet, some rare Rynvale tomes for me and some of my sharp mind at your service in kind. Glad we met, Sir. May the Moon shine high and bright on you tonight..." and such Thamalys would have proceeded to leave, long, clumsy steps taking while climbing the river banks and then up again, toward the House. "Farewell!" he would have uttered, in a tone that he himself would have not know how to label. Some anticipation, maybe, and a teaspoon of proper fear, definitely.

Lycidas didn’t want to delay the other on his departure, “Rynvale it is then, I’ll have you some of their books within the week, perhaps next at the latest! Just keep your mind sharp and listen to your healers. I shall come back to visit sometime.” With that, the large knight stood to his feet and prepared to leave..Debating a dip in the river to clean himself off but decided that he didn’t want swept away.. Perhaps further down where it slowed.