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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Jan 29, 2012 17:18:08 GMT -5
Phobia casts Xavier a quiet glance at the question. Then the brief flicker of the alien expression disappears and Pierce frowns contemplatively, turning back to the bookshelf.
“In regards to dissociative disorders?” he murmurs. “Anything in particular you’re interested in? Dissociative identity disorder? Dissociative amnesia itself is also very interesting, a combination of retrograde amnesia and psychological causes.” The man places the next book onto the shelf before stepping back behind the cart once again.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Jan 29, 2012 21:31:26 GMT -5
Xavier frowns a little himself at the look Pierce gives him. What was that?
No matter. Back to his best charming, attentive smile. He gives a small shrug. "You're the expert here. I don't really know anything about any of those, but they sound interesting enough."
He's willing to trail Pierce around all morning, listening to him talk and watching him shelve books. Xavier feels... content. There's something about this man, something that he can't quite place, but just being around him makes that deep sense of isolation ebb away to a dull ache. How can they have never met before?
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Jan 30, 2012 16:01:44 GMT -5
Wary and but still tolerating, Pierce hesitatingly continues to elaborate on the subject of dissociative disorders as they make their rounds through the library. It was the duty of a librarian to depart knowledge to others after all, albeit, it wasn't supposed to be in this manner.
He feels vaguely as if he were letting his guard down too much simply by allowing this. He endures it for the time being however. It wasn’t so bad anyways; it wasn’t everyday someone actually wanted to listen to him chatter away about his old love for psychology, even if he was restricted only to talking terran studies.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Jan 30, 2012 19:48:09 GMT -5
Xavier listens and learns and questions until Pierce runs out of books. Then he looks at his watch, sighs, and says, "I'd better get ready for work."
"Thanks for the psychology lesson," he says with a grin and a wink. "I'll see you later."
Then he's off to the front desk to check out the collection of Poe's poetry, making a mental note to look up William Blake next time he visits the library.
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Feb 1, 2012 18:17:32 GMT -5
… Did Xavier just wink at him.
Pierce watches the man go suspiciously. Well, maybe not as suspiciously as he wants to be, but suspiciously enough! It was hard to be as suspicious as one wants to be after a good few hours of talking passionately about a beloved subject to a willing listener. Something about that has an annoying tendency to bring a person’s guard down.
Shaking his head, the pale man sighs and goes to help Miranda check in the returned books. He’ll go fret over it in his own mind there then.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Feb 1, 2012 20:41:51 GMT -5
Time-skip to Month 7, Week 3, Day 2
And so Xavier is gone again. He doesn't come back the very next day, but by Monday he just couldn't stay away. Next time he stays away two days, back on Thursday. Then again on Saturday, and another Monday. He keeps up the pretense of coming for books, still asking Pierce for the occasional recommendation - and always following up on them eventually - but he's really there for the company and the conversation. He talks about whatever topic he can convince Pierce to engage in, and when in doubt always falls back on psychology.
Today, however, he is trying to talk about food. More specifically, he's telling Pierce about the absolutely divine braised chicken with mushroom risotto he made last night. As he finishes rattling off a rough outline of preparation and ingredients, he gives Pierce a curious look and asks, "What sort of food do you like?"
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Feb 2, 2012 15:21:09 GMT -5
It was surprising how easily Xavier managed to slide into his daily routines. There was always the initial feeling of trepidation when he spotted the man but the red head’s stubborn (and surprisingly harmless) chatty presence had the annoying tendency of catching Pierce off-guard. He would always, always berate himself for it later, during downtime or after work, but eventually the feeling of having done something incredibly stupid started to become... less.
And maybe he perks up just a little hopefully every time he spots Xavier amongst the books despite the warning popping up in the back of his head. When had he begun to enjoy these visits?
The little inward reflection is somewhat derailed when the man in question asks him about food. Pierce gives Xavier a blank look in the middle of pinning announcements up on the bulletin board. After a moment, he tentatively intones, “... Chinese take aways?”
But actually, mostly Snickers Bars. Pierce never really grew out of his college diet and Phobia was reluctant to try new food.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Feb 2, 2012 18:25:45 GMT -5
Xavier stares at Pierce, then slowly raises an eyebrow. "Well, good Chinese food is nice..." He seems a bit skeptical, possibly of whether or not Chinese take away actually covers decent Chinese food. Or perhaps of the fact that Pierce didn't seem particularly sure of his answer. "Just take out, though?"
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Feb 2, 2012 18:39:48 GMT -5
“Yes?” He’s getting the impression that Xavier won’t like him admitting the meager diet considering how passionate the younger man seemed to be about food. And Pierce really only bought Chinese take-outs on his weekends. There is a reason why Pierce was such a thin and pasty looking fellow.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Feb 2, 2012 18:48:25 GMT -5
Xavier's eyes narrow slightly, though he continues smiling. "Anything else? No favorite foods you like to make? Favorite desserts? Favorite restaurants?"
He has noticed Pierce's thin paleness. It's difficult to miss. And he is starting to question the quality of Pierce's diet.
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Feb 2, 2012 19:22:39 GMT -5
“Well, I microwave pizza now and again...” Rubbing the back of his head, Pierce shrugs stiffly and goes back to rather intently organizing the pins by color. This is beginning to get a bit embarrassing, which is strange really since there was really nothing to be embarrassed about. Why would Xavier even care about what he ate? Nobody else had ever been bothered by it before and Pierce was doing well as far as he was concerned.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Feb 2, 2012 19:39:13 GMT -5
"You're kidding," Xavier says, leaning against the wall next to the bulletin board. He might be a bit of a food snob. Which might seem like a funny thing for a guy who likes to eat people to be, but he prefers people served well! Or raw. But the pain and fear make good seasoning! "What do you have for lunch?"
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Feb 2, 2012 19:47:54 GMT -5
“Ham and cheese sandwich.” On the bright side, Pierce can be an accomplished liar when he wants to be. Xavier’s disbelieving tone definitely makes him want to be.
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Post by Rampage/Xavier Goodkind on Feb 2, 2012 20:04:52 GMT -5
Xavier eyes Pierce searchingly. Well, a ham and cheese sandwich is better than nothing, but...
"You should really eat more. You're very..." He waves a hand at Pierce, looking him up and down. "...Thin."
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Post by Phobia/Pierce Fobster on Feb 3, 2012 16:36:51 GMT -5
“I eat enough,” Pierce answers bemusedly. “Besides, it’s good for warding off children. I’m not terribly fond of them.” Getting their sticky hands onto precious, precious hardcovers. And their parents always came whining to him whenever one of the miscreants wandered into the abyss of erotica in the corner of the library there. Did he look like a babysitter?
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