Is it storytime yet? (Open)

[not_the_philistine]

The un-copy-able sigils had been memorized, and Goliath had already sorted through the library to assemble all the texts he could find relating to enemies they knew they'd encountered. There must be more in the stacks yet too obscure for him to recognize their reference, but he would surely find them yet.

Now, though, the task he'd given himself in the library was to comb through stories for ones that might yet become relevant to them - either stories likely to bring new Guardians, or new children's nightmares to life.

He'd settled upon a particular story that he'd been aware of back in New York, but hadn't yet chosen for his own reading pleasaure. Fantasy stories had never offered him much in the way of escapism from his own fantastic life, and yet tended to be too speculative to relate to the reality of living hidden among humans.

This, though, he was finding himself drawn into as he skimmed through the early chapters, drawn in by the prose and the glimmers of philosophy it promised.

He came across a passage too well worded not to speak.

"- many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life." He drew the words out, thoughtful. "Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

Beautifully put. He'd have to remember the words.

Comments

[mark_in_the_sands]

Thmp.

Cassie had been browsing the library for her own reading material, but if someone with that kind of voice was going to be reading The Lord of the Rings out loud, she was not about to miss out on that. Especially when she'd already fought the Nazgûl here: call it a refresher course for training.

As such, she'd literally taken to the air zip over and assumed proper criss-cross applesauce storytime position on the carpet in front of the totally ripped giant purple guy with wings and a tail.

Goliath, please enjoy your audience of one (1) apparently-fearless blonde in her late teens. No need to start over again, unless you want to, of course.

[wherenoonegoes]

A boy and his dragon were once again in the library. Spotting Cassie's antics as they passed by, Toothless gave a curious warble.

"What's going on over here?" Hiccup asked, as he looked over.

[not_the_philistine]

Goliath looked, puzzled, from the young human girl to the - was that a dragon?

"I am not the one to ask," he said, tearing his curious gaze away from the dragon and back to the girl. "Should I understand you know this book?"

And enjoyed it, to all appearances. Since she seemed intent to listen.

[mark_in_the_sands]

"It's one of the most influential western fantasy works on my world in my reality," Cassie answered cheerfully. "Mom and I used to take turns reading it aloud when she took me on digs. She always said it was meant to be heard more than read."

She twisted around in her seated position to wave Hiccup over.

"This is the reality where the Nazgûl are from," she explained to him, before turning back to Goliath, "Kuk snagged some of the bad guys from this book -- well, technically it's a series -- and brought them here.

[wherenoonegoes]

"Not exactly looking forward to running into them again," Hiccup commented. He might've come out of his coma joking, but it had been a very disturbing experience.

"But, hey, if the monsters in the book are all as terrifying as they were, it must be good."

After all, the best of Gobber's stories, as embellished as they were in general, were the ones about some sort of terrifying monster. Hiccup sat, on the ground, Toothless curling up around him, letting the man lean back against him.

"Alright, we're ready, Keep going." Hiccup gestured to Goliath, while Toothless have the other winged being an attentive look.

[not_the_philistine]

Goliath stared briefly at his sudden audience. He'd not even decided to read the book in full yet, but if it came so heavily recommended -

And it had been a while since he'd gotten to enjoy a story with an audience. He pulled up a large chair, settling in and returning to the front of the book.

"A Long Expected Party," he began to read.

[mark_in_the_sands]

Success!

She was going to actually have to swap names with the big guy when they were done here. Maybe ask if he wanted to spar sometime, nobody got muscles like that by not doing some kind of work-out.

But, in the meantime, there was a long-expected party to listen to again, as narrated by someone who could absolutely get a job doing books-on-tape. Mmm.