Ms. Crow's Retirement [Larsa // Open]

[Sophia Lock]

The Archadian Royal Library was a very special place for Sophia Lock. Thousands and thousands of leather bound books filled the almost endless shelves. Some of them even put the Mille Feuille to shame when it came to age. Which only seemed to excite the bibliophile even more. To her this place was perfect, with the long hours and the books. Oh so many books. She spent day in and day out in the library. Pushing away thoughts of her death with the lovely fantasies and tall tales of days long since gone. It was comforting, the heroes that is. They always won, they always had a happy ending. But where was Sophia's happy ending?

So Sophia took over one of the larger tables in the Royal Library. Books, both read and unread formed a sort of fortress around her table. Old books piled high to form the towers and walls, the very peaks swayed back and forth as if it was about to collapse. Yet Sophia, an expert in hording, always managed to balance out the towers before they fell. Then put another book or three on top. The fortress was like a mark of territory, as if the bibliophile was claiming it as her own even though she didn't even work in the place. Heck she wasn't even native to the land of Ivalice, she thought. Truth be told she didn't know where she was from, but she settled in Archadia. It had decent housing, and this library. The library was a paradise. Save for Ms. Crow.

What soon became Sophia's mortal enemy, was tall thin and almost skeletal like. She often wore floral pattern dresses of dull blues and reds. Cat eye glasses adorned her face, with a string attached to them so that the pair of glasses could freely hang around her neck. Her face was perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the old grumpy spinster. It was sharp, very sharp. Full of angels that may have better suited a sword then anything else, especially her long beak like nose. That looked like it had been used to peck out the throats of one too many noisy librarian goers. Save for the large mole on the left side of it, with a few graying hairs poking out of it. Her gray hair was pulled back tight into a bun, very formal and very typical of a librarian.

Like most old angry spinsters, Ms. Crow was a very and wrathful person. And for some reason she placed Sophia on the top of her "must kill" list. She had to drag the wretched book lover out of the library, not to mention the dozens upon dozens of books that she checked out at once. On a weekly basis or the tall piles of books that she constantly made. A mess that Ms. Crow herself often had to clean up. But today, oh yes today! Was the day she finally could get rid of that wretched Sophia Lock.

Ms. Crow swooped through the library, like an assassin running along the rooftops. Her fingers slowly drummed against each other as she barely resisted the urge to let out a maniacal laugh. Sophia Lock had a ten cent late fee! She approached the woman behind, the small bill for the late fee held up as if it was a dagger. One that Ms. Crow was about to drive straight through Sophia's back. Yet the bibliophile didn't even notice the almost life threatening presence looming behind her. Instead her face was a blush with a rose red color. She was getting to the good part of her book, which to Sophia was any part. The librarian leaned forward, so that her own head only floated a few inches from Lock's ear.

"Soophiaa," Ms. Crow whispered like the devil himself. Yet Sophia's grin only grew bigger. She waved a hand dismissively towards Ms. Crow. "Shh, this is a library!" The bibliophile exclaimed in a hushed voice. It was very rude when people takled in a library, especially when you were reading! How else was Sophia going to finish this excellent short story about an insane woman joins a pack of dogs to study them. On the other side of things, Ms. Crow's face grew red with rage. "YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!" She screamed, waving the little late fee notice slip above her head like some kind of sword. The bibliophile spun around in her chair, a flat look on her face. "I apologize Ms. Crow, but you must be quite in the library! I thought you of all people would know this!" Sophia plainly replied before turning back to her book.

Blood boiled within the veins of Ms. Crow. How dare she spit back in her face like this! HOW DARE SHE?! The woman raised her hands into the air, cackling wildly. "SILENCE?! SILENCE?! I WILL SHOW YOU THE MEANING OF SILENCE CHILD!" She screamed as she summoned forth the magical energies with in her. Fire surged along her arm, landing upwards to her palms. There fire gathered, growing even larger and larger. The torrent of magickal energy swirled about, creating a gust of energy in the room. Books and papers flew about as the screams of the library patrons filled the once docile building. Yet Sophia kept reading, one hand placed on top of her fortress of books to keep it steady. Her amusement with her own book, Dogology to be specific, was to immense for her to even notice the terrifying arcane spell known as flare building up behind her.

The fact that Sophia didn't even acknowledge her, or the lethal flare that was about to be hurtled at her left Ms. Crow at a complete loss. In fact she just stood their mouth a gape as the guards tackled her to the ground. The flare harmlessly dissipating in the air, and Sophia's hand left the stack of books now that it was able to support itself. The guards wrestled with the librarian, forcing the potent spell caster to the ground. A collar made of pure manufacted nethicite was strapped around her neck, suppressing any magicks she had left to cast. The entire time the elderly librarian struggled.

Finally the book Sophia was reading snapped shut, it only took her about ten minutes or so to read most short stories. With a smile Sophia turned around to face Ms Crow who she believed simply tried to grab her attention only a few moments ago. "What was that Ms. Crow?" she cheerfully asked. Completely oblivious of the events of the past few minutes. A look of pure confusion replaced the one of joy as she saw her mortal enemy on the ground in chains, screaming out TEN CENTS! TEN CENTS! "What the..." Was all Sophia could manage to say.

[OCC :: I was originally going to make this a lot shorter, and something completely different. |: But Ms. Crow and Sophia worked to well together. I think.]

[Larsa Ferrinas Solidor]

It would be improper to say that Larsa and Ms. Crow were anything more than acquaintances, but they certainly knew each other well.

She had maintained the post of librarian since his grandfather's time, Vayne would often tell him when he was younger. That the severe librarian was a prime example of what one may earn with supreme dedication and devotion, to the point that her sharp and spindly fingers clung onto the nameplate of her title as if she expected to bring it through with her to the afterlife.

Then again, Vayne would also tell some less-than-flattering tales of "Edgar's Crow" that, though improper to the highest degree, always seemed to garner a smile from the youngest Solidor.

The woman had been a constant in his life, even moreso than Gabranth and Drace; indeed, since the age he could walk, he would engage in clever games of hide-and-seek and cat-and-mouse between and through the towering cases. Back then, when her face possessed not quite as many angles and wrinkles as it did now, he remembered the kind librarian's smile as he, no taller than the second shelf, deciphered Old Ivalician text with the dexterity of a scholar. Perhaps her praising comments here and there as he endeavored to find (and lift) a tome three hundred pages thicker than the last.

She almost seemed to be part of the library, what with her attachment to the place and her ever-constant presence. Perhaps some patrons were wary of her, but the young lord absolutely adored her.

That aside, he had scarce drawn near the library since assuming duties as the Emperor. Lack of his own free time was a factor, but more than that - he himself knew of the fondness Ms. Crow held for his elder brother, and he feared Vayne's passing and the advent of the Distorted World had frayed what sanity she had valiantly retained throughout her years. He too still grieved for Vayne - remembered afternoons in a dusty corner, a candle illuminating that which the window did not, simply perusing archives with his elder brother. He could only imagine her, even younger than she had been when he was but a child, chasing an energetic eight-year-old Vayne between the constant bookcases with an expression of good humor.

Miss Crow had also been responsible, in part, for tutoring Larsa in the art of magicks. She had been a talented magicker in her youth, spry as a willow tree, and such gifts were not quick to leave...

Even so, it came as much shock to him when, though deep in a corner searching for a particular historical title on foreign policy during the time of Raithwall, the Emperor keenly felt a surge of magicks in the main archives. In but moments he was within view of the events aforementioned, and watched with a great amount of sadness as the woman was pinned under a Judge and a soldier, screaming vainly.

As was wont, he chose not to intervene. Hostile magicks that endangered the lives of thousands - all of those within the library and within the upper reaches of the palace - were a capital offense, and he would no doubt be asked to see her... at a later point. He felt no need to aggravate the situation at the moment any further as she was taken away - the young lord would pay her a visit very soon, once she had calmed down.

Though he drew closer to the girl that had been the target of such a hasty spell, and made to rest his left hand on the reading table, observing with interest the unfathomable stacks of books that seemed to surround her like a barrier.

"Are you... all right?" he asked quietly.

[Sophia Lock]

It was only natural for her attention to draw back to the dozens upon dozens of books that were stacked before Sophia. To her the fortress was her enemy, one that must be slain. And the only way to finish it was to read every line, every word, and every letter. Her delicate hand rested found it's way too a certain book detailing the advanced mechanics of an airship's sky stone, in other words an almost undecipherable book of mathematical solutions and scientific theories presented over the past hundred years. Yet to Sophia it was a new challenge, one that she would readily grasp.

So a smile was on her face once again. The company of a book could not be replicated. Yet her thoughts of joy were interrupted by a voice, the one of a young boy. Sophia's smile dulled just a bit due to her slight disappointment. The book would have to wait, she turned around to face Larsa just in time to see Ms. Crow clinging onto the large wooden doors. The distraught Judge and Soldier pulling at her legs, trying to remove her from the building. Her light blue eyes slowly made their way to Lord Larsa. She wasn't sure who this boy was, so Sophia responded with a smile.

It was not the same kind as the one she wore only seconds ago, this was one of friendship not one of pure bliss. Although she did not know the boy, it would not stop her from being as friendly as possible. It was just her nature, she would even forgive Ms. Crow if she discovered the unfortunate events that unfolded only seconds ago. "Oh, I'm fine..." Sophia replied, the young emperor's words just processing in her head. Her smile weakened a bit, as a look of confusion spread on her face. Why wouldn't she be alright?

Her eyes glanced to the table, which let out another soft creak of wooden pain. It was clear that one or two more books would spell the death of this ancient table, which had already hit it's weight limit. "But I don't think this table will last much longer. It might be the one needing help." The bibliophile said, returning her focus to Larsa as a soft chuckle escape her lips.

In truth she had no idea who this boy was, or if he would even enjoy her own attempt at a joke. Yet he seemed to posses an air of nobility and authority, despite his own age. It was strange to see such strong traits in one so young. Sophia racked her brain, trying to think of who the boy was. But no answer came, mainly due to the fact that she only arrived in Archades no more then a week ago and she was still busy researching the oldest scraps of Archadian history.

So instead Sophia presented a hand to the boy, intending for a handshake. It was formal, more formal then the woman was used too. Yet it would seem to fit the boy's own nature, one that Sophia couldn't help but conform too even though it was only slightly. "Oh how rude of me, I'm Sophia Lock. It is a pleasure to meet you." Her words echoed her inclination to introduce herself to the young Emperor. Who knew, perhaps someone wrote a book about the boy?

[Larsa Ferrinas Solidor]

The young lord paused for a moment, with a somewhat owlish blink, at the girl's easy joke. It wasn't that he found humor unusual, or struggled to decipher the reason for her lighthearted laugh after the comment - just that she was so... free about it.

If nothing else had made it obvious (of course, she definitely didn't look Ivalice-born), it was a certainty now that she was an outlander, to be so comfortable in his presence. This realization was met with a strange sort of relief on Larsa's part, and for good reason.

One bored quickly of the stifling nature of ruling.

After a moment, he smiled back good-naturedly, and with a delicate shake of his head. "There is no need for concern; that desk has persisted through several lifetimes of like treatment. This library attracts the studious."

He wasn't as quite taken aback when she proffered her hand as he was at the joke, but the raven was still faintly surprised, hesitating for barely a moment before sealing the handshake with his white-gloved hand. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Sophia Lock. Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, at your service."

Now, why did he refrain from introducing himself by his alias? He knew already of Sophia's bookish inclinations, and she was bound to come upon a likeness of him sooner rather than later, along with his given name - which, by nature, nullified any reason for concealing his identity.

"Pardon the formality. Just Larsa is fine."

[Sophia Lock]

A wave of excitement washed over Sophia. Not at the table, she was sure that this young boy was correct about how sturdy it was. She was excited about the boy himself. He was in a book, a rather well written one too. Giggling madly she dove into her fortress of books, tossing a few aside as she searched for her prize. Then finally, after moments of wild giggles and frantic searching she emerged with the prize!

The small leather bound book was fairly new, as it detailed the life of one Vayne Solidor. Sophia grew quite, her hand clutching the book so that it's title could not be seen. This boy, he adored his brother. It was a fact stated in the book, so it must be true. Was it really right to bring up his brother so shortly after the tragic death of Vayne Solidor? No... Sophia knew she could not.

"Oh Lord Larsa!" Sophia exclaimed, ignoring the informality that Larsa insisted upon only seconds ago. "It is truly a pleasure to meet you, I read about you. In a book mind you..." The she hesitated as her hand slowly snaked back into the fortress of books. Hopefully hiding the name of Vayne from his eyesight. She couldn't do that, not to Larsa or anyone for that matter.

"It was just some silly biography, mind you." She said as she finally pushed the book out of sight. Then she shook her head. No book could be silly, save for the ones filled with jokes and the like. "Well, it wasn't really silly mind you. More of... Hmm... How do I put this... Ah yes, different." She finally said, satisfied with her answer. She was not lying about the book, and she just skillfully avoided the fact that it involved his dead brother. Well one of three.

The woman tilted her head once again. Her crystal blue eyes darting around the vast library. There was something very odd about this room. Oh wait, Ms. Crow was missing! "Say, do you know what happened to that darling Ms. Crow?" Sophia asked. Still oblivious to the events that transpired only moments ago. She never really liked the woman, she was rather mean for a librarian. Yet Sophia could not bring herself to speaking ill of someone else. Even if she could have sworn they were just violently dragged out by armed forces only seconds ago...