Eighteen Rose Petals Fall - [Action]

[its_rose_damnit]

[This morning will find Dist wandering about Luceti. Ion is bedridden, Tear thinks she's his daughter again, and just...house one is not the place Dist wants to be right now. He's never been a socialite ever, and dealing with people and awkward situations like this just wasn't something he was used to. So he'll just be wandering about the town, heading toward the library first and foremost.

He wants to clear his head, and the best way to do that is to fill it with vast amounts of knowledge from books. That's how Dist escaped the confines and struggles of normal life so many times before. That, and work. Which he will do later in the day. After his time at the library, Dist goes to the smithy to just do something, anything to occupy himself. Perhaps he'll work on the unfinished automail parts Winry gifted him with one time. Those always interested him, and were challenging to work with. Yes, surely those would keep his mind busy for quite some time. Away from...other things.

Finally, if he has any time left, Dist will go to the battle dome to practice with his gun. He's not a marvelous shot - hence the practicing - but he is getting somewhat better. Plus, it gives him a good excuse to shoot at Third Part simulations. He takes a sick pleasure in managing to get one between the eyes, or blasting off a valuable part of their wing structure - bone and all.

Dist also gets a bit of research done at the battle dome as well, both on hyperresonance and some fonology work. That doesn't take too long, maybe an hour or two at best, but he's just trying to kill as much time as possible with mundane tasks.

Finally, he'll return home at a much later hour. Dist's praying no one's around or awake to chat him up. He's tired and just...doesn't want to talk. He really, really doesn't.]




[OOC: Going to work in a half hour-ish, so tags will come when I get back! And just to reiterate, Dist can be found around the village as well as at the places mentioned here. He's going to those places in chronological order, so yeah. :|b Just letting that be known for timeline purposes.]

Comments

[lostinmyway]

[One of her housemates sent her for groceries that wouldn't spoil if she didn't return right away a while back. Now, Grune is slowly making her way in the general direction of House 34…sort of.

When she sees Dist, she pauses for a moment. Does she know him? ...Oh yes, she does! And so she smiles and waves with her free hand.]

Hello! It's such a nice day, isn't it?

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Dist comes very close to walking right on past Grune before he spots her out of the corner of his eye. Oh, it's that woman who had one too many encounters with a brick wall...


. . .]

Ah...yes, I suppose it is to some.

[His entire week has kind of sucked, mkay?]

[lostinmyway]

It's the perfect day for a walk! [That's what Dist is doing, right?]

Are you going somewhere special?

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Dear Lorelei why did he even stop in the first place? Dist is not in the mood for idle chit-chat of any sort. He left home to be away from people! Ugh...maybe if he keeps heading toward the library she'll get the message.]

I was headed to the library...among other places, if time permits.

[inabook]

[If Dist had hoped to be alone at the library, it will take a little effort, because someone is standing in front of the shelf containing books on fonology. Estelle is busy shelving - although she doesn't know much about fonons, she's recognized that all the books on that subject are from one world, and tried to group them accordingly. Still, there's been an odd increase in the number of these titles recently - maybe someone from that world is due to arrive?]

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Dist had indeed been hoping to be somewhat alone. Or, at the very least, undeterred in his search for his research topic. He comes to a halt at the row of books Estelle was in front of, frowns in frustration, then sighs and approaches. At the very least, it seemed like this young lady worked here, so he couldn't be too upset she was in his way. The section of the shelf she arranged did look rather organized and presentable.]

Excuse me....if I could just get by a moment...

[Dist says as he reaches right over her head and removes a book from a top shelf, inspecting the spine to see if it was the correct one.]

[inabook]

[blink.... wait, someone is behind her. Estelle turns.] Oh, I'm sorry. I'll be out of your way in a moment.

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

It's quite all right. My apologies for disturbing you, young lady.

[Dist says offhandedly. He doesn't look at Estelle as he speaks, either, looking through the index of the book and...damn. The correct series, but not the correct volume. Information about isofons must be in the next one. He snaps the book shut, irritated, then extends the book to the girl.] You work here, correct? Do you happen to know if the next volume of this book is here? I require it for research and study purposes...as soon as possible, if you would be so kind.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

[Working on stuff in the smithy, huh? Winry probably wasn't around to greet Dist when he came in, but when she spots him working she'll tap him on the shoulder.]

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Dist hadn't known Winry was anywhere near him when she suddenly shows up, far too absorbed in his work. That, and no one in their right mind back on Auldrant ever thought to bother Dist the Rose while he was working on anything, let alone tech work.

He jumps, drops a few of his tools, and rounds on who bothered him, but stops short when he sees it's Winry.]

Ah...Winry. I wasn't aware you were here. I hadn't seen you when I arrived.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

[She knows she'd do something quite similar, so she doesn't take it personally.] Yeah, I was kind of sorting things out in a dark corner. Are you enjoying yourself?

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I am. [Though he doesn't exactly sound it. Dist sounds more exasperated and even slightly tired.] Thank you for giving these to me, Winry, they've been very interesting to work with.

[Action]

[demon-colonel.livejournal.com]

[There is someone familiar sitting in a corner of the library. Someone dressed in an Oracle Knight uniform, her white hair ruffled slightly as she's absentmindedly run her hand through it quite a few times while reading.

Yes, that's right, Gelda Nebilim hasn't quite returned to 'normal' just yet and that suits her just fine. She doesn't mind catching up on some reading here in Luceti, as the library has quite a few books she'd never get her hands on back home.

Her research subjects? Fonic Artes and demonic weapons. She's found a Planetary Catalyste weapon hidden away in her wardrobe, presumably belonging to her older self, so naturally she can't let this chance to investigate go to waste.]

[Action]

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[For a moment, all Dist spies as he investigates the various books on the shelves is an Oracle Knight uniform. Dist does a double take and backtracks the few steps to stare at the person, assuming it was Ion. Thankfully (for Ion), it was not but that didn't mean Dist wasn't astounded to see who was sitting there.]

Professor...Nebilim?

[What in the world is she weari--no. No, she looked younger too! An experiment?]

[Action]

[demon-colonel.livejournal.com]

[Gelda was so absorbed in reading, she hadn't noticed Dist at first. However, as soon as he speaks her name, she looks up from the book with a rather weary expression. Another person to refer to her as "Professor"...]

... I would prefer the title of Colonel.

[Action]

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Wait, what. Colonel? Since when was the professor a Colo--wait. Yes, he can remember now. He had found out during his time back on Auldrant - how could he have almost forgotten? He had dragged up any and everything he could about the professor, and from the looks of what she was reading...yes. The planetary arte.

A sick chill fills Dist's chest as he recalls the catalyst weapons and that creature he brought back with them, turning his face away as his brows knit together in discomfort.]

My apologies...Colonel.

[Nggh, that felt both odd and disgusting to say. Colonel was a title Dist attributed to Jade.]

[distressedude]

[It's at that very late time that Dist will find Ion sitting alone outside on the front porch. It's still a bit warm out, so he doesn't have to worry much about getting sick, but he knows he probably shouldn't be outside right now. Although his wing has grown back in, his back was still healing. But laying down and napping all day left him restless during the night. While he was still in some pain, his mind was clearer than it had been these past few days.]

[Unfortunately, that just meant he had his thoughts to keep him awake when he really should be trying to sleep. When Dist starts to walk up the path, there's a look of surprise on his face. Had it really gotten so late?]

Oh, Dist, you're home.

1/2

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Dist hadn't expected to be greeted. he wasn't planning nor counting on it, really. With a few books clutched under an arm, gaze cast downward in thought, he really expected everyone to be asleep or at least tucked away in their own rooms doing...whatever it was they did. He didn't care. And Dist especially didn't expect to find Ion there on the porch. If anything, he thought Nephry would be the one to apprehend him.

Ion should have been in bed, resting and recovering.]

Wha--Fon Master?

2/2

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

What are you doing out of bed?! You shouldn't be moving in bed, let alone around outside! You health before this accident was poor enough, and you were gravely injured in battle! What were you thinking?! You're still recovering and shouldn't be straining your body!

[distressedude]

[It's a testament to Ion's current mood that he doesn't even wince when Dist raises his voice to yell at him. Certainly most of it was that he had been expecting such a reaction out of Dist, but... there was something else there. Something he's had on his mind for awhile now that he's been trying to push back and not think about... but with so many other things he'd rather not think about right now, that was becoming more and more difficult to do.]

[He waits a few moments after Dist speaks before replying, keeping his voice quiet.]

I suppose I wasn't thinking. I thought the fresh air would help clear my head. [He looks up at the night sky.] Though if it hadn't worked back then, I'm not sure why I thought it would work now...

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[...Something is wrong. Ion is far too calm and collected right now. His voice is too even, his face is too serious. Dist's mouth forms a tight line as he falls silent, most of his anger being replaced by a sense of anxiety. Was Ion going to lecture him? Him? About what?! ...That's what Dist feared. There were many things to talk about, many things Dist had kept away from the house to avoid talking about.

He exhales after the statement, assuming Ion was still caught up on the Malnosso and Third Party's true intentions for their brainless little war.]

You're still thinking of that, Fon Master? Honestly, I told you it was worthless. Both sides are unwilling to give up information freely, so it's best you not bother with such thoughts. There's little to be done about it!

[silversnowfall]

[Will he stop by the kitchen when he goes inside? That's where the remaining occupant of house one is - seated at the table, her head buried in her arms. Beside her on top of the table are her glasses.

It seems she's asleep.]

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Dist passes by the kitchen, and idly goes to turn off the light that someone must have left on. He glances up just before he does, spotting Nephry asleep at the table. ...She didn't actually wait for him, did she? He glances around, unsure whether to chance rousing her by taking Nephry to her room, then just sighs and goes to fetch a blanket from one of the closets. It's not good to sleep the way she was, but he'd rather not wake her.

Once Dist finds a blanket, he opens it up as quietly as he can and drapes it over his friend's shoulders. Honestly...sleeping in such a place! Though, in retrospect, they both had quite a bit to think about.]

[silversnowfall]

[Sorry Dist, not your lucky day. She startles when the blanket hits her shoulders, picking her head up and blinking surprisingly red eyes.]

What is it? [She sounds a little stuffy, too.]

[its-rose-damnit.livejournal.com]

[Oh, darn it. Leaning back and away from Nephry, Dist is tempted to just hurry and escape into his room before her eyes focus and she sees him, but the coloration of her eyes, and the tone of her voice has him concerned. Was Nephry ill? When did she become ill?! And how?! It wasn't because of all this stress, was it? Rrghh...this is becoming more and more problematic by the minute.]

I-It's just me, Nephry... My apologies for waking you.