Turning Page | Vinzent + Matsukaze | Library Car

Vinzent Mayer

A library, huh…

Not the worst place. He doesn’t expect this place to be totally quiet with some people in the vicinity but, if Vinzent can help it, he’ll avoid them. Since the incident, Vinzent has made no real effort to be chatty with more people, only intervening or speaking up if he deemed the timing right (even if one of these timings was terrible). But… Right now, with everything, he preferred to keep it to himself for the time being.

There’s a lot in his mind. There’s a lot he wants to say. But to who? And how should he put it?

… Ah, that’s just a bother.

He’ll go pick a book, he supposed. But Vinzent wondered to himself, considering the past cars, there’s been always a catch somewhere. What is it, this time?

Perhaps he’ll figure it out if he finds something that will look familiar to him. For now, as he let his hand run through the book spines.

… But how is he supposed to remember the death date of someone? Is there anyone that he knows of passed away relatively recently? His grandparents already died about twelve years ago and even then, Vinzent didn’t… Feel a strong attachement to them. Yeah, he was sad, but that was about it, especially when there was so much going on at this time in his own life.

…

Argh, he’ll just go section by section and see if any date strikes him as oddly familiar. Maybe something will come back to him. But at least, he didn’t seem particularily focused at the moment, occasionally glancing around if there’s someone looking for him…

Not like it would be the case, he thought. Ah well, anything to keep himself busy.

Matsu

Matsukaze has no idea what they’re supposed to be doing or whose book they’re supposed to be looking for. They are relieved that there aren’t so many children around any more, books were definitely better company, but they really didn’t feel like reading.

Especially not books themed like this. On this train. They don’t trust like that.

At least there were ladders and stools, because there were an unfortunate amount of books far higher than Matsu could reach (though they would like to have that to complain about at least).

They groan as they round a section to start looking on another row, but stop when they see Vinzent there browsing. They narrow their eyes a bit, hesitating and tugging the top seam of their mask up to make sure it’s fit right. After a moment they step a little closer, then start acting like they’re fully focused just on looking through the books. If he doesn’t say anything and doesn’t seem to be looking at them, they’ll casually move a few steps farther towards him.

Vinzent Mayer

Matsu Especially not books themed like this. On this train. They don’t trust like that.

Tbh valid-

The topic was already grim enough, and Vinzent would agree that it’s not something that he’d look for willingly. But the car… They had to leave one way or another, so he’ll push through it.

Matsu At least there were ladders and stools, because there were an unfortunate amount of books far higher than Matsu could reach (though they would like to have that to complain about at least).

Hey same hat! Even if Vinzent is a few inches taller than Matsu normally, and much taller right now with his boots (very sorry!), in general he is not fond of tall bookshelves. Sure, he can climb on these if needed but it’s very much unadvised and not something he’d willingly do unless extremely necessary-

Matsu After a moment they step a little closer, then start acting like they’re fully focused just on looking through the books. If he doesn’t say anything and doesn’t seem to be looking at them, they’ll casually move a few steps farther towards him.

As he continued to keep looking for anything in particular, he thought one book looked oddly familiar… And a presence nearby. He can look around here again, at least he’ll remember where he’ll leave it off for now. Get the book later, talk now-

Normally. That said, he was surprised to be approached by Matsu again, but acknowledged them.

“Hello… Did you need something?”

His voice was still soft, unsure even now.

Matsu

“Huh?” Matsu acted like they were surprised he talked to them, but it’s not very convincing. The first time the two spoke, they would have tossed out a Nothing you can help with, asshole, but instead now they glance at him and then back at the books in front of them. Their finger trails along the spines.

“I mean. I guess we all need to find one of these stupid books. Right? What a waste of time.”

They pause again, looking up at Vinzent. Now that they think about it, most of the other times they’ve talked to him were in cafeteria-like places, weren’t they…? They purse their lips behind their mask before adding,

“… Kind of feel like we should be eating something.”

As soon as they’ve said it they grimace and shake their head a bit. That was stupid. That was stupid and he was going to think they were stupid for that dumb joke. They didn’t even say it like a person who tells jokes. They’re not funny. Cringe.

Maybe they should just grab a random book and walk away, pretend this never happened and never speak of it again. That was just about the only way they could save face.

Vinzent Mayer

Yeah, very convincing, Matsu! He says nothing about this, lest they snap at him.

“I agree.”

He doesn’t like this car very much so, but…

“… Haha, yeah.” He genuinely did chuckle a bit, what a coincidence huh. Even if it didn’t end well.

“It’s been a long time. Anyway, uh… I don’t think you approached me for that, exactly, right?”

As he continued to browse, his hand stopped where it’d be, hovering over a spine.

Valentin Huber

… Huh. That’s a name he hasn’t seen in a long time. He pulls it out but doesn’t open the book yet. Examining the cover, it looked like every other average book in this library. Not very thick but not that thin either.

… A thought crept in Vinzent’s mind as he examined the book semi-attentively, wondering why Matsu would approach him now of all times.

Wait.

… What if Matsu approached him for…

That?

He’ll have to chose his words so carefully, because it continues haunting him, even in the background, even after two cars now. … But hey, they also share another, much less grim thing!

He’ll let them ask, then. He will warn them. It’s not something he was willing to talk in public, much less to people all willingly.