#📖ㅤ the nightingale ㅤ ( 𝐼𝒞 )

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‘ today isn’t your day, is it? ‘

𝑥. @cynopclis

In short, no. The list of books past their due date snuck up on the librarian, totaling four. Four ! Who would have thought an extra nap would have skewed her routine into a hurricane of tardies ? And on her way to collect them, she had missed her afternoon tea. Lisa calculated her day very carefully to ensure she could make it back in time: three books collected in arm with the last in a cottage on the outskirts of the city. After a talk with the loaner, he lent it to family maybe ten blocks away from the library. And Lisa was never too keen on surprises — not with work, anyhow.

A quick stop at the library to check each book in and slide them back into place on the shelf, Lisa ( who willingly left without lunch, never mind her afternoon tea ) went to retrieve the last book. And what the loaner said was true, for the book was returned safely to her hands with slap on the wrist. The privilege of staying in the library all day meant the librarian was not on her feet and could wear any choice of shoe she pleased. Her heels — her favorite heels — caused her feet to ache. Dawning upon the last stretch of road towards the library, one started to squeak.

Since when were the clouds in the sky so dark ?

And just her luck, when she was ready to take a well-deserved nap, there stood an old friend on the front steps. Perhaps this would be the light of her day, a karmic 'well done'.

" Oh, mi bellooo — Cíao, cíao ! It would be so rude of me to make you worry, alas... " Lisa pouts behind a children's fable, " ... it certainly is not. But there is little reason for me to sour anymore — To what do I owe your visit ? Sumeru is so far, oh, come and rest your feet. I'll make you some tea. "

It is still the afternoon.

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❛ do you think i’m a good person? ❜ [ kaeya pLEASE ... ]

𝑥. @aalberich

... ℳy, my.

A stack of books in one hand and the other holding steady on a ladder, Lisa peers down at her company. "The History of Cecilia Flowers in Mondstat" and "Botany of Old Mondstat" were just returned by a teenager who had trouble meeting her eye. Just before him were two girls who apologized about a bent page in "Of Mountains and Seas". She lost its place on the shelf.

"It depends." A finger slides along the spines, finding where to slide each book into place. "Of Mountains and Seas" finds its place between two other books by Leonard the Adventurer. "'Good' is subjective. What do you consider 'good', Captain ?"

Lisa looks at her feet as she descends, heels clicking slow as she rests the other books on her desk. Of course she thought well of Kaeya, she had yet to find evidence to sway her otherwise. But its spoken existence rose concern. It implied there was reason not to, whether self-imposed or concrete, she knew not.

Should she worry ?

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"how does it feel to be in love?"

𝑥. @lupicalled

ℐn love ? Lisa chortles, fingers hiding her mouth at the thought she might be perceived as rude. It's an innocent question, one she didn't expect from her new friend.

" My, my ! Sei molto curioso, mio cucciolo. Veee — ry curious ! "

The opportunity to sit behind her desk is always a welcome one. Lisa pulls up a chair from a work table beside her own, a beckoning wave in case Razor would like to join her, partnered with an auditory, "Sit with me ? "

Regardless of his decision, she continues, one leg crossing over the other, " Love can be very complicated. I feel lots of different love for many different things. My love for you, mio cucciolo, is different from my love for books, hm ? What do you think love is ? "

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❛ well, how do i look? ❜

𝑥. @axewields

" ℳarvelous ! " Lisa found the poor girl washed by spray from a passing carriage. It was nothing that a plate of biscuits, a warm cup of tea, and a change of clothes couldn't fix. The stranger was not her size, but the librarian recalled enough magic to cast a tailoring spell in the closet.

A blouse and a red frock was handed off in the forbidden section — one area she was certain would be no trespassers, not under her watch. Confirmation of her magic took the form of the dress fitting like a glove. Lisa would pat herself on the back if she were alone !

" Are you comfortable ? Do you like the color ? I can check to see if I have anything more your style if this won't do. "

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❛ have you ever lost someone? ❜

𝑥. @pearlemoon

ℋow curious.

Lisa fixes her posture — uncrossing legs and elbows off the table. She had gotten too comfortable; inviting a guest (not just any guest, but a general who's successes were topic of conversation overseas) into the library for afternoon tea was rarely a good idea. But the weather was nice and she had an especially good breakfast, what was the harm ?

"Lost someone ?" She stalls, her tone careful not to reveal a loss of words. To disease or illness: not yet. To her own carelessness: plenty. Though, that was hardly a story she would allow guests to leave the library with.

"You'll have to excuse me, General Sangonomiya, but what brings this on ?"

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tag dump.