There's lots of words containing ass in this log. How many did you find?

[bufudine]

Who: Buttagonist Serph and YOU!
When: ALL DAY ALL NIGHT ANY TIME YOU WANT.
Where: the Grand Library
Style: Starting in action, but I will roll with anything!
Status: OPEN!

[Even though most items in Vatheon are free, it just so happens that a lot of what Serph wants aren't. And they're all very expensive, too, costing him far more Starfish Tokens than what he's amassed. Getting a job is quite a hassle, but he wants the tokens so that's the price he pays.

So Serph had canvassed the entire city, searching for a job that still would keep his mind occupied while he works, which basically meant he had passed on all the shopkeeping jobs. However, when he had found himself in the city's Grand Library, looking down the rows and rows of massive bookshelves, he had thought it was a good opportunity to learn more about non-Junkyard things.

A short conversation with the librarian on staff later, and he has a job organising the collection of books. Except... he actually spends his work time reading a book while he sorts everything else. The collection seems to encompass almost everything, from books of passion -- he quickly stops reading those; their mixed metaphors hurt his head -- to detailed creature biographies to books on the assembly of model planes to 'classics', whatever that means.

However, even if he looks occupied, he's still paying attention to what's around him. If you need any assistance, Serph is more than willing to stop and help you!

... No guarantees on how good he'll be at it, though :T]

Comments

[unshelledbullet]

My school was...different from most other ones.

[MAYBE IT'S TIME HE ASKED A QUESTION HUH?]

What did you think it was like?

[bufudine]

[Serph moves back to his pile of books, skimming the titles and authors and checklist. How best to put it...?]

A Tribe people didn't want to be a part of.

[Mmm, perhaps he should explain further.]

One girl who remembered school. Her memory seemed painful.

[Yes this really explains everything.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall doesn't really know what Serph means by Tribe, and he suspects that it's not the standard definition of the word. And the thing about a girl "remembering" school was interesting.

But right now, he actually finds what Serph said kind of funny.]

Most people don't enjoy school. Lots of people, especially children, find it boring and feel like there's something more interesting they could be doing with their time.

[He pauses, though, thinking about the girl with the painful memories. Squall's experience was mostly neutral - people mostly left him alone.]

There's other reasons people might not like it, many of them more serious than just boredom. That girl sounds like she had an especially rough time.

[He could think of a few possible reasons: maybe she did poorly and stress got to her. Maybe she was bullied by other students or teachers. It could be one of any number of things, so he wasn't going to assume. Only the girl herself could give the right answer.]

What do you mean when you say Tribe?

[bufudine]

[Serph has a hard time imagining how people can be bored in a place of learning. But... then again, they've probably known more than warfare. After all, he has no interest in learning about new ways of killing when he's already known killing all his life.

Ah, this question again.]

Comrades who unite under the banner of a leader. Their original purpose was to conquer the other Tribes, but that's changed.

[There's a tiny hint of fondness in Serph's voice, even though he's piling books in his arms.]

My Tribe are my family.

[unshelledbullet]

[And that explains why Serph knows so much about fighting. Squall takes a moment to think about it while selecting another book off the shelf. Here's one he hadn't read before, and he liked this author. Maybe he'll try this one.]

So, does that mean since you've decided I'm part of your family, I'm part of your Tribe now?

[bufudine]

[The way people had felt obligated to join him upon the defeat of their leader... that's not something Serph wants to force on people. If they don't want to be a part of his Tribe, then so be it. That's their choice. Junkyard law has no meaning here.

Serph shakes his head and gestures to the streak of orange across his chest with his free hand.]

Only if you wish to be.

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall had always wondered about the splash of orange on Serph's chest and if it had some kind of meaning. Serph doesn't have to say anything. Squall understands. Orange is the "banner" of Serph's Tribe.]

I'll think about it.

[Now that he thought about it, he used to wear orange when he was a child, didn't he?.]

[bufudine]

[Serph nods; it's Squall's decision, after all. Even if Squall doesn't end up wearing the Embryon's colours, Serph still considers him important. Family. Another word that's given more meaning to his life.

He doesn't have anything to say, so he'll quietly continue to actually doing his job. He's sure Squall won't mind the silence, anyway.]