by Chesha 15th June 2015, 9:52 pm
The rules on borrowing could always be found out later as the fact remained that Mao could read to her heart’s content for now. At his indication to “go nuts” Mao beamed before dashing off like some child in a candy store. With so many options at hand she didn’t know where to start! So many titles swam before her vision, head swiveling about in an attempt to see everything at least once. Later it could be a good guide to any title that jumped out or caught her fancy especially, but for now everything was more about the magic of the moment and the mountain of possibilities before her. Every so often one of her hands shot out to nab a title from a shelf, eventually some books being balanced on the large tail as she flexed it like a third hand.
Deeper in the library, just when she thought she couldn’t carry another volume the girl stumbled across a comfortable chaise, the dark red velvet a little dusty from disuse. It caught her attention as one of the few things not made of the same marble material surrounding them. ’Doubtful I’d be the first to want to spend extensive time here…some of the chairs would likely bring about back problems.’ Whoever the mystery person was, Mao sent them a mental thank you before creating a few stacks like a mini fort before she tried to sweep off as the light layer of dust.
It turned out comfier than she initially imagined, the animalistic girl sighing with content as she grabbed the nearest book and began pouring through it. Page after page went by, minute after minute escaping her notice as the first book was merely recorded for a later date when she’d have more time to review it. The second book followed the same pattern, something to be enjoyed later, but the third caught her attention and forced the curious mage into actually reading even if a little speedily so, eager eyes gobbling up words. By the fourth though her pace slowed down, pages no longer turning furiously until she came to the second to last page and completely halted.
With that voluminous tail curled around like a wall, one of the tips acting like a pillow, Mao’s eyes finally drifted closed as drowsiness won out. Before her mind completely drifted off she recalled the glimpse she caught of the book Dmitry picked up, and lightly chuckled.
’Maybe he has an interest in biology…wouldn’t have…imagined…’
Slowly Mao’s mind came back to the waking world, eyes blearily blinking away sleep as she stared questioningly at the page before her. Absentmindedly she turned the page to read the final few paragraphs, and by the end the memories flowed back: Dmitry brought her to the library in his guild. A small yawn wracked her, forcing a full body stretch that felt delicious after a good nap. ’Hmm…I wonder where he got off too. Reading biology books possibly?’ A small quest it was then as she picked up the finished volumes, barely through a third of her original pile. How much time would they allow her to spend here? Forlornly she stared at the rest of the pile as her ears drooped in disappointment, ’As much as I’d love to spend even more time here, if I have to be watched then it’d be rude to take up so much of Dmitry’s time…I’m not even sure how to repay this much kindness.’
On the way back the girl replaced each book, including the rest of her “wish list” as she continued to fret and ponder how to give back for such a generous offer. ’Do other people worry about these things? I wonder…perhaps, perhaps it’s something worth thinking longer about though? Not something that I need do today…I might have to settle for that, I don’t really have any ideas.’
By the time she reached the entrance she stopped and tilted her head a little to the side, ’He’s asleep? How long?’ They’d likely been there for a few hours, did he clean up before he started napping? Should she wake him? Looking towards the ceiling, Mao briefly considered that as she recalled the three goons from earlier…’Probably not a good idea, at least not in a similar manner.’ Instead of screeching like a banshee – because that was rude, and very unlike her anyways – Mao chose to crouch next to him and stare with her purchases clutched to her chest, tail resting against the ground as a good balance. Truth be told, she’d never really observed someone sleeping so up close and personal before, nor for any length of time…
’I wonder how long before he wakes up? This can't be a comfortable spot...’