"Rex Incognito?"
Warm breaths tickled my ears and I flinched, whipping around to meet an unforgettable pair of teal irises. Albedo withdrew from peaking over my right shoulder, standing at his full height. A hint of mirth creased his features, "Sorry if I startled you."
"No worries." I waved it off, visibly relaxing after that unexpected entrance of his.
It was nearing midday and class was in the next hour or so. Lumine's probably having lunch with Childe and his friends right about now. She's invited me to join them on multiple occasions but I'd politely turn her down every single time. Wouldn't want to be a bother. Besides, her boyfriend's associates weren't exactly my cup of tea. So, here I was, killing time inside the library until one o'clock with a book in one hand and a crisp scarlet apple in the other. An unsealed water bottle, coupled with a tiny bowl of tossed salad would finish off my lunch menu items. It's not much but it'll do until I can get some proper grocery shopping done at the end of the month.
Shoving the thought of my empty refrigerator and kitchen cabinets aside, I graced the ash blond with a small smile, "What brings you to the library today?"
Albedo gestured to the toffee paperback tucked in the crook of his left arm, "Returning another book."
"Oh, well," Casting a glance at the front desk, I spotted my younger co-worker assisting a female student, "Xingqiu can help you when he's free." Lisa's haunting words glued me to the spot. No unnecessary jumping in to assist my junior. He seemed to have it all under control anyway, confidently smiling at the student on the opposing end of the reception desk.
Albedo nodded, his features a blank canvas, "Alright then."
Curiosity inspired me to beg the question, "Which book are you returning?"
"Mountainous Miscellany." Life returned to the ash blond's visage as he passed the worn book over. I shut 'Rex Incognito', placing it down on the table before delicate fingers curled around the other volume's fragile spine.
Biting into my apple, green eyes skimmed the back of the book and I swallowed, "Hmm, is it worth the read?" Inquisitive sights flickered towards Albedo as he accepted the book back.
"It is. I'd go into more details but," Glancing up at the golden aerial clock haloing the reception desk, teal eyes locked with mine, "Time doesn't permit me to do so." The ash blond pulled out his phone, "We can continue some other time, whenever we're both free. If you'd like."
Five seconds of brain lag later and I realized he's asking for my number, "Uh, sure. I guess." Wouldn't hurt to have him as a contact. Digging up my fossil of a cell phone, we exchanged our information, "Looking forward to it, Albedo." Closing the flip phone, I matched miniscule smiles with the ash blond.
"So am I. Anyway, we'll keep in touch Mona." With a curt bow, Albedo strolled over to the vacant front desk.
Green eyes glossed over Albedo's name perched at the top of my alphabetically ordered contact list. It's been a while since I've added someone new to the relatively short phone book. Strawberry tinted lips curved into the smallest of heartfelt smiles.
─ ･ ｡ﾟ : *. .* : ﾟ. ─
Lazy footsteps practically dragged against the floor, treading towards the last place he wanted to be. That retard – Zhongli – really knew how to annoy Scaramouche. It's no wonder the older man was an acquaintance of his sister's. Sending him to the library for yet another book report. He's convinced, the professors were plotting against him. At least this time there's no pesky partner to deal with.
Oh right, she lived inside the library.
Irritation tugged on his eyebrows and Scaramouche scowled. Just the mere thought of that snarky ravenette made his blood boil. From that condescending way she tilted her head, to the undaunted bravado laced within her alto. The reflection of a challenge mirrored in her seafoam gaze, then that defined cupid's bow, curving at either corner when a confident smirk overtook her features. The deluded imbecile really thought she was better than him.
Although, he awarded brownie points for the way she handled Cicin yesterday.
Then a sudden realization dawned on him. Scaramouche could just get Mona to fetch the book for his new assignment. Save himself the effort of trying to find it on his own. A smug grin plastered itself on his face and the library's double doors came into view. Scaramouche claimed one of the handles and pushed just as someone else pulled on the door from the inside. Tanzanite gems met teal ones, the two blocking each other's path, "Excuse me." The ash blond stepped aside first, holding the door open so Scaramouche could enter.
"It's whatever." His lips flatlined and Scaramouche nodded to the apathetic guy, stepping into the peaceful ambience of the library.
Immediately making a beeline for the front desk came to an abrupt stop. An unrecognizable head of sapphire hair occupied the reception area and Scaramouche refused to accept the twinge of disappointment that completely soured his mood. Until tanzanite eyes wandered left and a familiar pair of ebony pigtails entered his peripherals.
The right end of his lips curled. There she was.
Her nose was stuck inside a book, what a surprise. Inky tresses languidly fell before pale green eyes as his studious project partner gingerly gnawed on the ruby flesh of an apple. She never noticed his approach but Scaramouche was more than happy to make his presence known, "Are you homeless and live here or something?"
Crystalline gems tore away from the aged pages of her book and Mona's stare regarded him, a satisfying blend of embarrassment and offense highlighting her features, "Wha-!" Her initial shock wore off pretty quickly and seafoam eyes narrowed into a glare so sharp, it could slice through anyone's resolve with ease, "Of course not, you arrogant waste of space."
Unfortunately for her, she was dealing with an unbothered king, "Could've fooled me. I mean, look at what you're eating. That's not your lunch is it, or are you watching your figure." His taunting smirk grew further, "Not that there's anything to watch." It's not like Scaramouche lied. She was practically wearing a parachute. Her uniform was obviously one size too large, probably used as well.
To say Mona was traumatized would be a laughable understatement. Stunned into complete silence, the ravenette merely stared at Scaramouche as though her body had given up the ghost. Gaping lips closed shut after a brief moment and colour returned to his project partner's once pallid visage. Then an emotionless alto slipped off her tongue, "Anything else you have to say?" She wasn't glaring anymore, but something about the way that blank stare of hers suddenly darkened was unsettling. Even for him.
Scaramouche retained his bold composure, locking gazes with the twin tailed ravenette. If Mona thought her insignificant intimidation tactics would work on him, she had a lot to learn. A lesson on the way things ran around here was definitely in order.
The idiot couldn't even afford a decent uniform – or lunch for that matter – which inspired his next few actions, "As a matter of fact." Scaramouche perused the inner pocket of his dark hoodie and pulled out a brown leather wallet, "I'm actually feeling really generous today, so here." Fishing out a blue bank card, he held it out to her, "There's at least fifty thousand mora on this thing. Three-one-zero-eight's the pin. Get yourself a better lunch, uniform, I don't care." His shoulders shrugged without a care, yet tanzanite gems gleamed with mischief, "It's all yours," Scaramouche wagged the card in front of pale green eyes, "If you beg for it."
Mona's livid countenance took a drastic one-eighty, just like Scaramouche predicted it would. Contemplation creased her smooth features but the choice was clear. Who in their right mind would ever pass on such a golden opportunity when they were obviously broke?
Ebony locks swayed with the lowered tilt of her head and Mona stood. Hesitation impeded her right hand as it slowly reached out for the extended card and Scaramouche was beside himself with pride.
Then she swiped it out of his grasp before he could react, chucking the card into a large emerald bin roughly four feet away. Its resounding clatter as the piece of plastic bounced off the sides of the trash receptacle filled the short silence before seafoam eyes glowered his way, "If you want to see a beggar so badly, you can always go dumpster diving for your precious mora. Like a vagrant. Go insult someone else with your petty cash, moron." In one fell swoop, Mona gathered up her belongings, brushing past a bewildered Scaramouche before marching out of the library.