What happens in the library stays in the library. Unless it's demons

[freedom_is_grey]

Ysalwen is seated at a table in the library, tomes and scrolls spread out before her. There's also the remains of at least two plates of sandwiches next to her elbow, and two empty glasses of water. There is one half-empty glass, too.

Liranan, seated at her side, seems to be watching that half-empty glass as if his life depends on it.

Time continues to pass.

Comments

[yinyangwizard]

"Even if your wishes are unrealistic, I would still be interested in hearing them, if you are willing."

You can tell a lot about a person by how they say they'd change the world, if they could.

"I will even give you some of my idealistic and unachievable dreams in exchange."

[freedom_is_grey]

"I want a world where everyone is free. Where we don't fear each other just because we're different, where people -- "

Well.

"Where sharing instead of hoarding in the rule of the day, because it's what people want to do."

Her mouth quirks at one corner.

"I don't think we'll ever get there, but I can try."

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei nods. "Even getting a little way towards that goal would be worthwhile."

And as a follower of Mahayana Buddhism, Seimei very much approves.

"I promised to share one of my own, and so I shall. It is, I fear, more modest than yours." Seimei clears his throat. "I wish that people would cease being thoughtlessly and pointlessly cruel to each other, and especially to children."

[freedom_is_grey]

"We'll see how it goes."

Her smile is a little less twisted, now.

"I like that one. Yours, I mean."

[yinyangwizard]

"I am glad to hear it." Seimei is genuinely flattered. "I suspect that if my wish came true, the Bodhisattvas would have a lot less work. I certainly would."

The Bodhisattvas probably wouldn't mind, but Seimei might get bored and up to all sorts of trouble.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Then you could develop hobbies."

She only sounds a little wistful.

"I hear good things about those."

[yinyangwizard]

It is perhaps meant to be a joke, but it makes Seimei worried nonetheless. "Oh! I hope you have room in your life for at least one pursuit that is either artistic or idle."

Like playing a musical instrument, or occasionally napping on a sunny hillside.

[freedom_is_grey]

Her smile is quick and a little crooked.

"I don't know that I would call those hobbies, but -- I do have time when I'm not working."

[yinyangwizard]

"Milliways is good for having that sort of time. I mean, hopefully you get at least some at home too," Seimei says. "What sorts of things do you do when you're not working? And" - he grins - "feeding your insatiable curiosity in the library doesn't count."

[freedom_is_grey]

Well, there's sex with Zevran, these days . . .

"Um."

Liranan barks cheerfully. They wander the forest and the labyrinth and fight monsters, obviously!

[yinyangwizard]

"I find myself suddenly and painfully aware of the vast gulf of difference between 'time when I'm not working' and 'free time,'" Seimei says drily.

He worries about Ysalwen a little. She'd be very cross if she knew.

"Ah, Liranan. I am relieved to know that you, at least, have an activity you enjoy."

Although he's not sure what it is. While Seimei speaks many languages, Dog is not one of them.

[freedom_is_grey]

"At least I don't say 'I'll sleep when I'm dead'?"

Small blessings, right?

[yinyangwizard]

"Better yet, you did not follow up 'I have time when I'm not working' with 'it's called sleeping,'" Seimei observes, "which is an encouraging sign."

[freedom_is_grey]

She laughs a little, very quietly.

"Well. In that case I should probably finish up working here so I can go and do something else that isn't sleeping. Maybe I'll try taking a walk."

To fight monsters!

Um.

[yinyangwizard]

"Or building a snowman," Seimei suggests, standing up and smoothing out his kimono. "It's a good time for that. If you have any questions after further research, I will be happy to answer them." Pause. "Except for the bits where I've been sworn to secrecy."

There will be at least a few of those bits.

[freedom_is_grey]

"I'm better at snow fortresses."

Understatement.

"But I will find you to ask questions again later, about that and -- well. About lucid dreaming."

So there's that!

"Thank you again."

[yinyangwizard]

"You're welcome. Liranan, I hope you will ensure that your charge does not fall asleep on her books." He bows to both of them. "Farewell."