etrayalogs | December Library Catch-All [ OPEN ]

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December Library Catch-All [ OPEN ]

WHO: John, Harold, and anyone who might find themselves at the Library
WHEN: December
WHERE: The Library!
WHAT: The Library is here and open to all! Come borrow books, find a comfy chair to relax in, or snoop around.
NOTES\WARNINGS: Will be added as they come up

The Library is a five-story neoclassical building of terra cotta, brick, and stone. And the inside is, in fact, a library! And rather clean and organized too. There's no dust, no muddy footprints (apart from your own), and all the shelves are organized by Dewey Decimal, subject, and author. All literature is something you might find in a 2010 New York City library: various forms of fiction, children's and teens' sections, history, science, cooking, gardening, the list goes on. There's even small sections of audiobooks on compact disks and of DVDs ranging from old classics to history shows. The first floor has a reading/study room, a comfortable space with deep armchairs and tables with chairs; the fifth floor has some smaller tables clustered under a skylight. Part of the second floor is abruptly closed off by a door with a biometric scanner that denies entry to anyone who isn't John Reese or Harold Finch; the walls surrounding this section are soundproofed, so even a keen listener won't hear anything from inside. Otherwise, it's a perfectly normal library!

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[ There it is again: dog bear. Gorgug almost wants to correct himself, but he thinks it's not worth it as the man continues on. So he nods a little instead, move in closer, but just a few steps along the snow. ]

I know, Finch had him sit when I made a figure of him. Out of wire. [ He makes a small gesture of the act with his hands, but really, he's trying to give away the size of what he made. ] He was a good boy. But I didn't know-- if he was his or yours. If you both have... one of them.

[ He gestures at the dog bear again with one of them. Because does he dare say 'dog bear'? He's really, really got to figure this out. ]

[ Does he not know what a dog is? What was the "them" referencing? But he said "good boy" which is very much a term people use to reference dogs. The dog in question comes bounding back, ball in mouth, and drops it for John who picks it up and holds it out in Gorgug's direction. ]

Want to try? Bear has a lot of energy so I take him out when Finch is occupied.

[ Oh, playing fetch? He's tried that before with Fabian's motorcycle dog, but it would be different with an actual dog (bear). Gorgug thinks about it, before coming over to take it. But, he should ask first along the way of closing their distance- ]

Do they like it thrown really far? Does it matter?

[ What are the secrets of a Bear (dog)? ]

[ John passes the ball to Gorgug. He has a feeling that Gorgug maybe can throw it really far with his build and the fact that he's not human. ]

Give it a medium throw. It's a bit harder for him to find in the snow.

[ Bear is pretty good at finding the ball, but they've lost one already. They'll have to find it again in the spring when this all melts. If they're still here. ]

[ A medium throw. ...Gorgug can take a guess at what that is, and he more wants to say something about it being hard to find, but he also doesn't want to mean to Bear by making him wait.

So he turns from the man to the dog, feeling its weight in his hand, and then--lobbing it. Not be any inhuman distance, but done with the trajectory without a curve, and hopefully making it easy for the dog to find.

Good luck, Bear...dog! And Gorgug's definitely watching out to see how well he does do, but slipping out, briefly- ]

You want me to make it smell? Like food? Is that cheating?

[ Is making it difficult to find the purpose? ]

[ Is that cheating? No, not really. The point of the exercise is for Bear to get a chance to burn off some of that energy that makes him want to chew Harold's books.

The dog in question immediately races after the ball, kicking up snow behind him. ]

Not cheating. How would you do that?

Magic. I can just hold it, and-- [ he mimics holding the ball in both hands, cupping them side by side. ] It's easy. It's just a smell.

[ It wouldn't take much doing, is what he means. But before the dog comes back, what's a bigger question is... ]

Does he like beef jerky? I've got some on me.

[ Does Bear like beef jerky? They try not to feed him too much people food, but beef jerky isn't too far off from some of the dog treats they get him. ]

As long as it isn't peppered or spicy you can give him some.

[ And then Bear with forevermore be enamored with Gorgug. It's fine. He's do his job if he had to, but John thinks he's far more likely to be defending Gorgug instead. John hasn't asked his age but he has a quality around him that feels youthful, and he's not about to not stand up for the kids here. ]

No, it's just plain... I think...

[ At least he thinks so, and he's already grabbing at his backpack to find the aforementioned snack treat, undoing the upper zip and digging into a mostly empty bag. He pulls out what looks like a sci-fi ~~sonic~~ screwdriver, and then a plastic bag of delicious, beefy treats. He lets the bag hang from his elbow as he undoes the jerky bag, takes a whiff... ]

It's barbecue. [ ...and then holds it out. ]

You want one?

[ To try? Because it's beef jerky? ]

[ John is not in the habit of eating in front of strangers, much less accepting food from one. He'll eat with Harold, maybe go to dinner with a number if he really has to. If this is a trap, if Bear is harmed because of this, John will just shoot Gorgug later. It's a grim thought, but no one gets to hurt his dog.

That being said, he doesn't think this is the case. ]

No, thank you.

[ The dog in question comes racing back over and drops the ball at Gorgug's feet expectantly. He knows who threw the ball for him last time. ]

[ He takes back the jerky without question or reaction, smelling it again, and then taking a bite himself that he makes sure to chew, slowly. As Bear (dog) makes his return, Gorgug pulls down the goggles over the top of his head, worn even the last time that John saw him.

He crouches down as Bear and the ball come in front of him, a small smile on his mouth that shows the tips of his tusks as he says, ] You're good. You're smart, [ as means of compliments. The half of the jerky is in hand, and he offers it out, desiring to test: ] You like this? Does it smell good?

[ It's time for the Bear test, friends: does Bear love barbecue-flavoured jerky? ]

[ The ever obedient Bear sniffs the jerky inquisitively and then looks at John first for permission, who gives it with a simple Dutch command telling him to eat. Bear immediately snatches the jerky out of Gorgug's hand and chews it down in a few bites. He then looks at Gorgug with his big pitiful doggy eyes and wags his tail in the snow.

Yes, Bear loves barbecue-flavored jerky. John doesn't even think he needs to translate the blatantly obvious look. ]

[ Oh no.... oh no.

Gorgug has never been around dogs much. Has been briefly, in the same way a person passes them by while they're on their walks, and maybe they even get to pet one once in a while! But, look at this. Look at this look he's being given. 'May I have another? I'm such a good dog bear?'

...Gorgug slips out another, gives John a look before he offers it, a look for permission, as he is the fate decider for this. But if Bear gets the treat or not depends on John's choice: the aftermath is the same, with the only difference being between Bear getting a whole beef jerky to himself this time, or not.

But Gorgug will work on that ball while he does that. He leaves it on the ground, taking the device in his hand and putting a gem-pointed end towards the toy while pressing down on a small button on its body. The device doesn't change in any way, but Gorgug picks up the jerky bag and...takes a smell. Intakes the scent, the one that he wants, and lets his focus on aroma be transferred to also what is also his focus, where his magic is being pointed to: the ball.

The act of smelling only takes a second or two before he puts the tool to rest on his lap with the beef jerky, and he may wait to see Bear's reaction-- is his attention drawn in a new way to the ball...and its barbecue beef jerky smell as strong as a bag of the stuff? ]

[ John gives just a nod of approval and Bear happily eats it. Gorgug is now a Deliverer of Treats in Bear's eyes. Bear is a working dog, he's trained to be Harold's protector, but John doesn't think there's harm in this kid getting to be friend with him. He thinks Harold would approve, as well.

Whatever Gorgug is doing with the machine isn't obvious to John, but he finishes whatever it is fairly quickly and Bear immediately starts sniffing around before settling on the ball, sniffing it intently. Bear picks it up in his mouth and chews on it a few times before putting it down and giving Gorgug another look. He's learned that while the ball might smell of barbeque beef jerky it certainly doesn't taste like it. Instead he just wants more of the real stuff.

John picks up the ball and throws it. Bear watches it go but turns back to Gorgug again. John doesn't roll his eyes, but he mentally does before giving Bear the Dutch command to "fetch" which does prompt Bear to run off after the ball. ]

I hope you don't mind giving up your jerky.

[ The interest in the ball (even if it's lack of delicious taste) is the exact sign Gorgug was looking for, pleased, even if Bear is eyeing him in hopefulness. It might not make the animal's life any more interesting, but it may make his ball finding capabilities easier.

Gorgug puts the tool away, but he stands up with the jerky in his hand, opting to eat another piece for himself before shoving it into the giant front pocket of his hoodie. ]

I've got more bags. [ As you do. ] But he's got a powerful face. I'll have to be careful.

[ Those eyes could surely charm him into losing more jerky if he's not careful. He pats his hands against the sides of his clothing, trying to lose some of the residue grease from his fingertips. ]

By the way, do you...have a gun? Do you know something about getting pissed off and holding control over that? [ Out of nowhere, perhaps, but Gorgug does explain: ] I talked to Finch about my school paths. I have to get angry for one of them, and he said he knows a guy like that too.

[ Kind of. ...maybe that's not what he was saying, actually. ]

[ That's not what Harold was saying, at least not according to Harold's rendition of the conversation. Does John get angry? Certainly sometimes. As much as he hates letting on, sometimes he does. Like with Jennings and Chapple. And sometimes he makes unwise decisions because of it, like getting caught by the FBI. ]

Why do you have to get angry?

I hit things better. In a fight.

[ A simple answer for a simple question, right? He's really trying to nail down simplifying his school work, here! ]

[ He hits things better? In a fight? When he's angry? ]

If you're capable of doing something angry you can learn to do it when you're not angry as well. Being angry isn't a magical spell that empowers you beyond normal means.

[ At least, probably. How does magic work where Gorgug is from? John has no clue. ]

[ He looks at the man blankly as he says that, not knowing where to start or where to end. Or even the middle? At least it unintentionally(?) answers a question for him. ]

Not for you. [ Unlike some of us, his tone implies. ] But, okay. I guess you don't have anything like that.

[ It's not really disappointing. Except, okay--maybe a little. But it's fine. It's not unusual for people to not have equivalences to what he does in their own world. ]

[ Gorgug's tone seems to disagree with John's statement. That's curious. He supposes magic is... magic. There doesn't have to be logic explaining how being angry is a special state. ]

Why is being angry special?

[ He pinches his lips together as he grimaces a little, rubbing a shoulder with his hand. ]

Well... [ ... ] ...because it empowers me beyond normal means? It does that-- it literally does it. And I'm good at being mad in a fight.

[ His mouth feels clumsy, and he knows he's not explaining it thoroughly, but it also feels pointless to get into it. So he's clicking his jaw, kicking lightly at the snow. ]

I just thought there was a fighting practice like it in another world. It doesn't matter. I just don't get to talk about anger and fighting with it a lot...

[ Does he want to, now? Even if the thought of it has been intriguing him since he got the idea talking to the other old guy, it's feeling kinda dumb now. But there was something about it, trusting someone even during their anger--it resonated with Gorgug. At least, in a sense. ]

[ Oh, he's just a kid. He really is just a kid. John doesn't have the best way with them, it's always kind of awkward trying to be... supportive? There's a certain thing he's lacking to make it really click. John is a man of action, not words. ]

There's not any magic where I'm from, [ he offers by way of explanation. ] But to me there's a difference between being angry and losing your temper.

[ Is that... a good thing to say in this situation? John is very much out of his depth, talking about emotions. ]

Yeah, [ he starts, in a way that suggests he agrees; but there's still that hesitance, a wrinkled nose and a grimace. There are lines at the sides of his eyes that become prominent, too, and he's slow to continue. To decide if he should. ]

I mean... I guess, there's different ways of committing to that anger, to rage, but you have to-- you have to have control, too. You learn how to wield it so you know what you're doing. It kinda sounds like a contradiction, but the more you let yourself get consumed by it, you still have to-- be you.

[ It's difficult to speak about, for another reason. The one that keeps his eyes on the ground and the white snow, the marks of his fiddling and Bear's denting its fluff. ]

It can go bad, but-- I'm a good fighter with it. [ ... ] And I don't get as angry as my teacher would like anyway.

[ So it's not just that he feels unsure about what he has to do, it's also that he's not living up to standards. John is kind of extrapolating meaning here, he's not sure if he's going to get this right. ]

Being in control is important. If you can control it then you won't hurt the wrong people. You should be doing what you're comfortable with, not letting someone push you too far.

[ John knows about being pushed too far, about how it erodes you as a person. If he can convince someone else not to make that mistake, it'll be a lesson well learned. ]

Yeah.

[ It's an acknowledging response, but he's still not looking at the man, not immediately. This wasn't a similar situation in the way Gorgug was hoping it was, but also, he doesn't know if this is even the guy that Harold was speaking about. They never said, and now he's in an awkward spot.

So Gorgug's quiet for a second or so, before he takes in a breath of the cold air and turns on his feet. Looks briefly at the man now. ]

I'm gonna check out the library. Have fun with your Bear dog.

[ He doesn't need a parting word or anything-- he's just giving the man one himself before he goes, unless John says something to stop him. ]

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aimsforknees - 2024-12-27 20:47 (UTC) - Expand

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