Plinth scoots into the main library carrying his cargo with the utmost care. It's a quaint and cozy building on the inside, only because of the sheer amount of bookshelves crowding the large room from floor to ceiling. Several piles of uncategorized and disorganized literature litter the ground along the walls and on top of the front desk. A long wall of books spans the entire room, connecting perpendicularly to the north and south of the building with multiple passageways cut into it, extending throughout the rest of the room in strange patterns, swirling and curving and connecting in all sorts of confusing and interweaving fashions. Alcoves containing tables and small reading areas are littered throughout the maze of books. The book wall and its snaking tunnels make up roughly 80% of the main library. The main, open area of the library consists only of a few tables, the front desk, the entrance, and the door to the back room. Behind the front desk is the door to Robahg's home directly above the library. Plinth places Chris down on one of the main tables, and scoots out of the way. Robahg stands over Chris, and Shini stands behind him.
"You can put me down now," Kiddo states, "Plinth," Plinth jumps, and puts Kiddo down beside him.
"What happened to him?" Robahg puts on a pair of glasses as he investigates Chris.
"He broke his legs," Shini mutters.
"And that's all?" He looks over his glasses at Shini. She nods, and he turns back to Chrisbopherd, "Very well. Go clean yourself up, get something to eat, and then get out of here."
"But-"
"You know you're not supposed to be here. It's not what I want, but that's how it is," he says without looking at her. They both stand quietly for a moment, "You should know. Better than I, at least," Robahg mutters. She tries to think of a reason that she needs to be here, but resigns after only brief moment. She glances around, and notices that Kiddo and Plinth are gone. She walks back behind the front counter through a door to Robahg's home. She finds the shower, and turns it on quickly. She recoils as some cold water hits her arm, dampening the dirt clinging to her skin. It would be a long time before the shower warmed up, mainly because Robahg never wanted to fix it, out of fear he would mess up the water pipes in the whole building. She sat on the ground by the shower, contemplating, as she usually did in the 5-7 minutes it took for Robahg's shower to warm up. The sound of rushing water calmed her. It was one of the only things that helped her think without ruminating too harshly on things. She was always a poor thinker, and knowing this fact made her even worse. It was really affecting her thinking right now, in fact. She throws the shower curtain open. The same soaps and conditioners from over ten years ago were still found in the troll-sized shower, organized neatly. There was one comically large bar of soap, and one normal one. Obviously they were new soaps from the last time she was there, but they were the same brand. Robahg was a cleanly troll, after all. However, the shampoo was different: "Plitchfruit Mist," instead of "Moon River Symphony". Shini snatches it, and gives it a whiff. Then another. It's tasteful. As described with the name, just a mist, just a hint of the tangy smell of a plitchfruit. It would go perfectly with the conditioner, which, although labeled as scentless, had a slight starchy smell.
In all honesty, Shini had no idea if the combination would smell good, or if the conditioner had that starchy smell, she just trusted that Robahg would make a good decision with something so small. Figuring out smell combinations, knowing where books were, mending broken bones, listening- the list could go on. He knew how to do things like that. Despite her trust in Robahg, or maybe because of it, she disliked the new shampoo, although she didn't know why. She put it back in the basket, and ran her hand through the water. It was warm now. She decided that she would wait a couple more minutes to get in.
After hearing the first sign of a vulnerable conversation between Shini and Robahg, Kiddo taps Plinth on the shoulder. When Plinth turns around, Kiddo motions into one of the openings in the main wall of books. He makes his way deep enough into the books so that he can barely hear Shini and Robahg. Although they stop talking quite quickly, Kiddo is fascinated by the structure of the pathway. The bookshelves somehow seem taller than they did before, as the ceiling seems to expand, and the bookshelves twist up into it. Little balls of warm, dim light sit in cubbies scattered throughout shelves, making it easy to traverse. "Say," Kiddo looks to Plinth, "how are you supposed to get up to the higher shelves?" Plinth tries to act out how to do it, "Oh, right, you can't talk," Plinth nods, "how do you communicate with people then? With Robahg?" Plinth bobs his head side to side, "Ah. Right, sorry," Plinth smiles, which confuses Kiddo.
Robahg assesses Chrisbopherd's injuries as Shini skulks off. He waits for a moment, and hears water running through the pipes. He notices that Kiddo and Plinth are gone. "What was that about?" Chrisbopherd speaks up.
"Sorry, I'm sure that was awkward for you. I see that your other friend left."
"I'm not sure if he's my friend yet, to be honest. Same thing with Shini, we only met today."
"Well she brought you to get help here, right?" Robahg applies a spell to reduce the pain from the upcoming procedure, "Shini can come if as very harsh. Jaded and a little rude as well," he snaps one of the legs back into place, and begins working on the other, "Despite that, I know that she truly does mean well."
Chrisbopherd sighs, unrelated to Robahg snapping his other leg back into position, "You know, it's a little hard for me to believe that sometimes. She was the one who broke my legs."
Robahg stops for a second, "Really? She didn't mention that."
"Well, I wouldn't have either, in her situation."
Robahg purses his lips, "I guess. Wait right here," he goes back behind the counter and wets his hands. He opens a drawer, then another, then grabs something and walks back, "I know medical expenses in the major cities can run quite high, so I'm assuming that's why she came to me."
"Yeah, I was worried about payment and stuff. I don't have insurance, is that okay?"
"It's perfectly fine."
Chris sighs again. Robahg molds some plaster around Chris' legs, "So how should we pay you?"
"Well. You won't. It's really no big deal."
Chrisbopherd clenches his jaw, "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Sorry if that's unexpected. Is there a problem?"
"I just feel bad, you know? You're helping me out a great deal, and I don't really have a way to make it up to you."
"You shouldn't have to, for something like this," Robahg casts another spell on the plaster, causing it to harden, holding the leg in place, "There's a way- maybe- in the future in which you can 'pay me back', but for now, you need to rest. You'll probably have to stay here for a while."
"Why? Didn't you heal me?" Chrisbopherd sits up, and Robahg steps away.
"Not heal, I just put your leg bones back where they're supposed to be. Those casts on your legs are holding them in place to let them heal naturally. I don't have the materials to fix your bones immediately. Most hospitals don't even have that stuff these days."
"Oh."
"Do you have family that I should contact? Rent to pay, stuff like that?"
"Nah, not really. I guess you should let my manager know. Flixel Bagg, he lives in Petunia."
"Yeah, I know Bagg. He's a real, uh, interesting fella."
Managers, in this particular example, are sort of like pimps. Some fighters, many of those in the middling and lower ranks, work under managers who organise fights for them. These managers often carry a lot of influence, and are able to sign people up on the fight card. Managers take a cut, often a large one, from the fighter's purse, win or lose. Although, usually, a loss signifies the end of employment, as the supply for fighters is incredibly high. This relationship, which is in and of itself exploitative, can often be made much more intense. Flixel Bagg is a notoriously grimy manager, but along with that, a notoriously wealthy and connected one. A contract with Bagg is like a double edged sword, but the edge facing you is a masterwork blade, and the one facing Bagg is made of soggy bread. So really, it's more just like being hit with a sword.
"Sorry, by the way. That life is hard, and I can't imagine someone like that makes it any easier."
"What can you do."
"Right. Well, I'll let him know. Here," Robahg helps Chris to his feet, "let's get you somewhere more comfortable. Are you hungry? Thirsty at all?" They walk, Robahg supporting Chris, behind the front counter, into the door Shini went through earlier, and into a small, cozy bedroom. There's some boxes tucked away in the corner, collecting dust, a dresser in the left corner of the room, a tube running from the bed out the door, and a dim orb of light sitting on the bedside table. Robahg apologizes as he lays Chris down, "Sorry for the clutter, I don't get many visitors. You should stay-"
"Excuse me." Chris interjects. Robahg stops for a moment, then nods, "You've been talking a lot for a long time. I'm familiar with injuries and how they work. I'm cool to just lay here for a while, if you'll have me."
"Yes, of course!" Robahg takes a step back, "I'm sorry if I haven't given you much information, even though I have talked quite a while. I have a tendency to say many things of very little substance," he makes his way out of the room, and stops in the doorway, turning to face Chris, "If you get hungry, or thirsty, or bored, or need anything, just shout into the tube there. It'll get to me."
"Thank you. I really appreciate all this. Even though it's, admittedly, a lot, and I still feel really bad," Robahg nods, "One last thing," Chris groans in pain, and holds out the calming cloak, "could you give this back to what's-her-face? I think she'd be better off with it."
"Shini?" Chris nods, "You're sure you don't want it?" Chris nods again, "Alright then, it'll be pretty painful without this."
"You don't gotta tell me," Chris exhales as he slowly places himself back down on the bed.
"I understand that you feel like a burden, but I just want you to know that this is one of few things in life that bring me joy."
"People being crippled?" Robahg frantically starts explaining himself, "I'm just joking."
Robahg relaxes, and lets out a sigh. After a moment of collecting himself, he clutches the cloak, and looks back up, "I mean providing help for others. Just being able to provide a place to stay and food for others is," he stops, and exhales, "it's something I love." Chris smiles, and holds back a laugh, "Alright, I'll leave you be now. Get some rest," he exits, shuts the door, and walks into the kitchen.
After scrubbing intensely for about twenty minutes, Shini had cleaned everything above her knees, but was running out of soap. For the first time in a very long time, the hair on Shini's arms and legs was not matted down and mysteriously smelly, and she could see her light red skin. It surprised her that she wasn't darker after spending almost all of her time outside, but she attributed that to the thick layer of aforementioned gunk protecting her skin from the sun. As she finally finishes cleaning, she holds the bar of soap out in front of her. Hers started just a little bit more than halfway used, and now she held just barely a sliver. She sticks the leftover piece onto Robahg's giant bar of troll soap, and shuts the shower off. Stepping out of the shower, sword in hand (she showered with it), she uses both hands to dry off for several 4 second intervals, stopping to hold her sword for 5 seconds after each one. After sufficiently drying herself, she connects a portable windmill to a wall socket, and begins drying her hair. She inhales deeply, staring into the blob of color staring back in the foggy mirror. Although she cannot see herself- she doesn't really want to- she can smell herself. Or rather, she can't smell the her that she had been for the last ten years. She had missed showering- so much- and the fresh smell and feeling brought tears to her eyes. As her hair dries, it slowly clings up into long curls, reaching down to her lower back. She would need to trim her hair soon, especially if it straightened out again. Only now, that she was relatively dry, did she realize that her clothes were still dirty. She tries to pick up her shirt, but is immediately repulsed by the smell, and is unable to do so.
Shini walks out of the bathroom, wrapped in a few towels. Robahg is facing away, presumably making something. She turns to her right, and tiptoes into her old room. It's dusty, but cleaned. It's not as if it was the same as how she left it- not that she wanted it to be, or anything, she really didn't- but she could tell that it had been untouched for some time. She checks the closet, only to find no clothes. Then the dresser, only to find the same thing. She walks back into the kitchen, and clears her throat. Robahg turns around, "Where are my clothes?"
"Presumably, still in the bathroom. Why aren't you wearing anything?"
"My clothes stink. I was talking about my old clothes." Robahg looks confused, "Like in my room?"
"Oh," he realizes, "I gave those away. They wouldn't fit you now, they were for children."
"You gave them away?"
"Of course. Some other family is putting them to good use," Shini looks vacant, "Sorry if they had some sort of sentimental value. It just felt strange to hold onto them. For me, at least."
She shrugs, "sure. Life moves on, you know?" She looks up at Robahg, who smiles back at her, "Do you have anything I could wear?"
"Oh, sure," he points to another room, "I keep a bunch of clothes handy, just in case someone needs some. They're in there."
"What do you mean?"
Robahg shrugs, and starts chopping at some vegetables, "Sometimes, people in town need a place to stay. I feed them, let them shower, read- stuff like that. I like to have clothes handy in case someone needs some." Shini wasn't necessarily surprised that Robahg was actively a good person, but it did make her sad, for some reason, "And this too. Your- the man with the broken legs told me to give it back to you," he holds out the calming cloak.
"Oh, okay," She grabs it absentmindedly, and places it on the counter. "His name is Chrisbopherd. I think."
"Oh my!" Robahg laughs, "I forgot to ask him his name. How funny."
Shini smiles. She felt selfish. She didn't even really know why she was sad about it in the first place. Why would Robahg being nice make her feel sad? "In the closet in here?" She points to the same room Robahg pointed to earlier.
"Yeah. Oh, Chrisbopherd," he puts emphasis on the name, and smiles proudly after saying it, "is in there. Do you want me to go in and grab you some stuff?"
Shini waves him off, "That's fine, you're busy. I should be able to handle it." She walks into the guest room, and sees Chrisbopherd messing with the tube by his bed. He doesn't notice her walk in, "There's a-" Chrisbopherd is startled, and he turns to face Shini, "sorry. There's a button near the horn on the table there. Press it to ask for stuff."
He looks down, feels around for a second, then presses a button. Shini hears it click twice as she walks to the dresser, "Thanks. How'd you know about that?"
She rummages through for a second, "I lived here for a while. Robahg houses the needy when he can."
"Oh. I got you," he turns away from her.
"It's fine, I don't care if you look. I'm covered up anyway."
"Just because you're comfortable doesn't mean that I am."
Shini stops for a second, and comprehends what was just said. She starts rummaging much faster than before, "Sorry. I'll be quick."
"It's fine," Chrisbopherd sighs, "I didn't mean to come off like that."
The situation is too awkward for Shini to know what to say, AND to find a good pair of clothes, "right," she mutters absentmindedly as she finds something wearable, "Sorry to bother," she waves over her shoulder as she walks out, shutting the door behind her. Earlier, when Shini had to choose between talking and searching for clothes, she forgot to choose, so she really wasn't paying attention to what she was grabbing. Looking down now, at a large, baggy shirt, reading, "Grela's best pizza: Saul Goudanfresha's", with a skull and crossbones in the middle, some loose fitting grey pants, and boxers, she felt that she could have made better choices. She grabs the calming cloak, and goes into her room to change. It was so empty in there. It made her uncomfortable. She had never really had any decorations, but it was... it was still off somehow. Just so empty. As she collects herself, and what little she has, she throws the calming cloak over her new gear. The black over the pale yellow shirt and the gray pants is fine. A detoxification occurs, as her worries are slightly softened, and she is only preoccupied a decent amount with them. She takes a step out of her room, her sword dragging behind. She notices Robahg back in the kitchen, still chopping away. A brown bag sits on the corner of the countertop, and Shini chooses not to acknowledge it. She walks by Robahg, trying to slip out into the main library.
"Shini." Robahg speaks up as she's in the doorway. She stops, cursing everything she has the power to curse, "Please take this," he holds out the brown bag. She looks at the bag, clenches her jaw, and looks up to Robahg. She can't really resist his kindness. As much as she's tried in the past, it's impossible for her to hold her ground. "I cut up some orange slices. And there's some chocolate milk in there too." She closes her eyes and breathes deeply, "You know you don't have to-" She snatches the bag, and turns to leave.
"Thanks," she mutters as she walks out.
Robahg smiles, going back to chopping, "It's no problem," he mutters to himself. Some tears begin to well up, "See you, then."
Kiddo had been spending his time reading old picture books and fairy tales and the like. It was lower on the shelves, and he felt slightly uncomfortable having Plinth lift him up, only to get to the teen novels. It was enjoyable to read some of the stories from his younger days, anyway. He was surprised at just how many of his favorites from childhood he found within the labyrinth. As he shelved "The Vest Maker's Very Messy Mistake," another book caught his eye. He had never seen it before, and the cover heavily contrasted the lighthearted theme of the others in the section. Even it's color stuck out, being a sharp, dark purple in a sea of light blues and oranges and the like. It was titled, "The Very Hungry _________" and the cover depicted a grotesque image of a bloated, disgusting, cartoonishly fat man taking up most of it, and a small silhouette in chains sitting below him. The art from the front extended to the back, where a large banquet table full of food was displayed. He assumed that the blank in the title was supposed to be the reader. The very hungry boy, very hungry girl, etc. Flipping through the pages confirmed this, as the silhouette remained a silhouette throughout the book. From the cover, and what he saw flipping through the book, this certainly didn't make sense as a children's book.
Plinth notices, and shuffles over to Kiddo. He points at the front, and Kiddo sees that he's pointing to the author. "Robahg wrote this?" He asks. Plinth nods, "Did he illustrate too?" Plinth nods again. Kiddo opens the book, but hears the door behind the front desk open. He quickly steps out into the lobby. He spots Shini leaving, "Hey, wait up!" Shini stops near the front door, and turns around, "Where are you going?"
"Why?"
"Well, I don't know, you brought us here. I assumed we were all gonna leave together."
"I can't stay here. I'm going-- I don't know. I'm going."
"Well, should we go together then?"
"Chrisbopherd has to stay here for a pretty long time. You can do whatever you want," she continues to the door.
"How do you know Robahg? Do you know if he wrote any books?" She stops again, and turns back. Kiddo holds up the book, "I found this in there. It's written by him, and it looked-"
"Did you read it?" Her thoughts vanish.
"No."
She let out an inward sigh of relief, and her mind is relatively calm, "So you thought that because there's a book written by him, that I'd know something about it?"
There's a short silence, "Yeah?"
"Yeah, well I don't. Maybe ask him." She walks out the front door, leaving Kiddo in the lobby.
He scratches his head, knowing that he missed something, but unable to understand what. He was going to ask Robahg about the book later, but for now he wanted to learn some more. He returns to the winding bookshelves, in search of a table.
Outside, Shini stops on the doorstep, and opens her bag. What appears to be three whole oranges worth of slices stares back at her. She reaches in, but hesitates. She grabs the chocolate milk, chugs it, and crimps the bag shut.