don't forget to source properly [open]

[endurancepoint]

WHO: Alex Rider & OPEN
WHAT: Studying... or trying to
WHERE: Library
WHEN: Thursday afternoon
WARNING(S): n/a

Hunched over a table tucked in a back corner of the library, Alex tapped the tip of his pencil against the paper in front of him. Several books were spread around him, open and marked with Post-Its covered in notes. He'd been trying to be a good student and get a head-start on his final paper for his history class, but actually getting started was always the hardest part.

Slowly letting out a breath, Alex started scribbling down an outline. He probably wouldn't actually finish the paper until the night before it was due, but he was going to make an honest effort.

Comments

[endurancepoint]

"What sort do you like?" Normally, Alex wouldn't bother with something like picking a book, but his instincts were telling him that something was going to happen here unless he acted carefully. He could try to push his precog, but without knowing what he was even getting into, that could end up being a waste of both time and effort. "Mystery, sci-fi, classics?"

[tiamaris]

She shrugged a bit, the non-expression never changing. "Anything I haven't read yet usually."

He hesitated then "stories about friends, recently."

How else was he supposed to learn how to keep up with the things that kept happening between him and Alric? He... didn't want things to go badly again. He... was tired of loosing control, of turning into... that.

His eyes deepened from a dull orange to a color that was almost a dull red.

[endurancepoint]

Alex didn't miss the shift in eye color. Interesting.

"It's a little difficult to make suggestions without knowing what you have read, but... off the top of my head, The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman."

[tiamaris]

He turned to the shelf to look for those three. It did not occur to him that this was a place where one would say thank you, or that Alex might have it in mind to talk some more. He found the first and pulled it down, then began to hunt for the second, walking away to trail down the aisle, hunting, carefully trying not to breathe on the books.

[endurancepoint]

Usually, that should be the end of the conversation. Except Alex had the feeling he couldn't leave this guy alone just yet. Reaching into his pocket, he dug out his phone and started flipping through the apps.

"By the way, there's this site that can give you book recommendations based on what you've already read. If you have a smartphone, they have an app."

It wasn't that Alex was a big reader. Between schoolwork and everything else, he only managed maybe a book a month. But Liz liked using the app, so he had it too so he could see what books she was currently chewing through.

[tiamaris]

"I.... do not fully understand how to use the phone they gave me," he admitted, carefully holding the books to one side, and aiming his head down as he breathed, as he spoke.

He didn't quite want to admit that he had half melted the phone and it only worked a little now.

[endurancepoint]

"Ah, first smartphone? Well, there's always the website. Here, it's called 'Goodreads.'"

He holds out his phone so the screen can be seen.

"See? Those are all recommendations based on books I've already read. It doesn't mean I'll necessarily like them, but it's an easy place to start."

[tiamaris]

"First phone..." he admitted, looking at the screen, holding his breath carefully. "And" he realized he should have leaned away, so he did so, careful to breathe on anything but himself, "And the library has all of these books?"

[endurancepoint]

Alex could not make sense of this guy. His breathing was all wrong, as if he kept holding his breath, and the way he'd keep tilting his head away from things...

"Probably not all of them. You'd have to cross-reference with the library catalog, but at least you wouldn't have to aimlessly browse for new things."

[tiamaris]

He hesitated, nodded, looked down to his chest to breathe, then looked up again. "I will remember the names, and look them up next time, you have my gratitude," he said carefully.

[endurancepoint]

"Don't mention it."

Alex turns to go, then stops and turns back.

"Are you all right? You should go to the infirmary if you're having trouble breathing."

[tiamaris]

A hint of red flashed into his eyes. I'm not sick," he said a bit too sharply.