tvklogs | In A Corner Of The World [Open]

Entry tags:

naoya,
v/v

In A Corner Of The World [Open]

Who: V/V, Naoya, and anyone at the bookstore.
Where: Gilgamesh's bookstore.
When: Monday morning.
What: V/V goes in to work and sees somebody she really would've rather not run into.
Rating: T for threats, possibly worse if somebody gets their hands on Naoya in the post itself.

V/V was happy on her way to work. She was alive, and nobody (except Devola, but V/V trusted her to be reasonable) was able to hurt anyone on her behalf. Things could go better. She wouldn't seek out Naoya because she'd promised not to, and without that, it would be like it had never happened in the first place.

Besides, there were cats and a cafe at work now. So that was a good thing that came out of this!

She was smiling as she opened the door to the bookstore, before she stopped dead in her tracks, a terrified expression on her face.

What was he doing there?

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Naoya was putting books back in place, grumbling slightly at the number left lying around. Why couldn't people put books back when they were done with them? This wasn't a library.

At the sound of the door opening, he turned to see who it was - and smirked. How... unexpected.

"Good morning, angel."

V/V shivered, barely edging into the doorway. "What are you doing here? ...G-g-good morning," she added, as an afterthought. Politeness. Politeness was good.

"I work here. Is it so unusual to show up for your job?" He set the stack of books down, stepping towards her.

V/V flattened her back against the wall. "I work here too! For longer, actually. S-so I'm showing up too."

Nobody could mistake that voice. And while he was glad to have her back, he really wondered if she should be moving around so soon after, well, respawning for lack of a better term. Either way, he would quit his work in the backroom and make his way to the front to properly greet her.

And that's when he sees the scene that's apparently unfolding. It takes a second for it to register, but Gilgamesh is almost certain of what's going on here. He'll interject with an unusually sharp edge to his voice.

"...And just what do you think you're doing?"

"I see."

He turned again at the sound of the door opening and the footsteps. He raises his eyebrows at the question.

"Me? I'm greeting another employee, apparently. And asking her a question. There's no need to sound so harsh."

Really, it wasn't as if he had done anything to her today...

V/V moved toward Gilgamesh, taking the furthest possible route from Naoya to get there until she was standing next to him.

"We're not doing anything," she said as calmly as possible. Right. This could be salvaged. Nothing bad had to happen either to her or to anyone.

He doesn't have any proof, but the fact that V/V had looked like a caged animal until just a few seconds ago? He was starting to piece things together. But for now, he would hold back on any action and keep the angel by his side.

"Yes, yes. I'm sure. But if you have any further questions, you should direct them to me. I am your boss, last time I checked. As for now, I need you to go to the back and sort through the latest shipment of books, Naoya. As for you..."

Totally wrapping an arm around V/V and leading her away, okay. The obviously best thing to do right now is to get them away from each other. Which means taking V/V over to the new Cat Cafe. Surely cats will make everything better, right?

V/V gripped tightly onto Gilgamesh's side as she was pulled away. Reaching the cafe, she took a seat and patted a chair next to her for Gilgamesh to sit down on.

"The cats are really cute." They were. Definitely going to make everything better.

Maybe that could have been the end of things, but Gilgamesh wasn't the only one who had noticed V/V's cornered animal act. As much as Albedo hated his boss, that was his angel someone else was terrifying. And considering what she was like, it wasn't hard to figure out that this person-who, he noted with annoyance, was that other immortal he'd been getting along with-must have done something to make her fear him.

His expression was distinctly sour as he approached Naoya, posture casual to the general observer but prepared for a fight to anyone who knew anything about hand to hand.

"Having problems with one of the other employees, are you?"

... Wonderful. Just what he needed. This didn't seem like it would end well. He did recognize that posture, and it didn't thrill him. Hand to hand was not his specialty at all. And it was the one he had discussed immortality with, as well.

"Not really." He leaned against one of the shelves, careful to rest his hand near a heavy book he could use to defend himself if need be.

"It certainly seemed like Monstre Ange was having problems with you."

His eyes flickered over to the book next to Naoya's hand without much worry. He wasn't as tough as he was used to, but his body still had a layer of dense muscle over everything important, so he doubted he had to worry too much about being bludgeoned.

"I wonder," he continued, eyes moving back to look into Naoya's, "why such an innocent little angel would act so timidly around you when my own threats scarcely make an impact."

"Why, indeed? I couldn't tell you, really." He drummed his fingers idly on a book, before taking a step forward to grab another book to put away. As long as they're playing this game, he might as well be productive.

"It seems to me as if you've done something to give her reason to fear you."

He ran his fingers over a few shelved books, half looking at the titles and half keeping an eye on Naoya.

"And if I did?"

The grip on the book in his hand tightens slightly as he reaches to push a book aside to make room for that one.

He removed a book that had been mis-shelved by some well meaning customer, tapping the tips of his nails against the back cover.

"I might be forced to get even with you. Sharing has never been one of my strong suits."

"Oh, is that the 'cruelty' you were talking about earlier? Perhaps we should put that to the test."

Someone passing by might not have a clue what they were talking about... but that's just how he liked it.

That confirmed it. At first, it seemed as if he wasn't going to do anything, as he took the time to set the book in his hands down and get a good look at how his enemy was standing.

As soon as the book left his hands, he moved like lightning. He wasn't as fast as he would have liked, but he was still much quicker than most civilians would be able to keep track of, and the fist aimed straight for Naoya's gut carried as much force as he could put behind it.

"Perhaps we should."

Shit. He had been expecting that, but the man moved faster than he had anticipated. He hurls the book in his hand towards Albedo's face, reeling backwards as pain blooms in his ribs. He's strong. Stronger than it would be smart to take on headfirst. He backpedals, snatching another book from the shelf.

He swatted the book aside, too angry to even care that he might have torn a few pages, and followed up on his punch with a grab for Naoya's shirt. It was disappointing that he would have to beat his fellow immortal to a pulp...but the man had killed V/V. There was no forgiving the murder of someone that belonged to him.

It would take too much time to tear out of his shirt, so close-quarters it would have to be. If only he could grab something - yes. He swings to the side, grabbing a bookend. It wasn't that sharp, but it would do. He attempts to jab it into Albedo's neck.

Oh no, he just got back. He wasn't planing on dying again so soon. He ducked down under the attack and reached up to snatch Naoya's arm, simultaneously shifting his grip so that, unless he missed the grab, he would flip his enemy over his shoulder and slam him face up onto the ground.

The aisles here were too narrow for any real getaway, so he winced and took the hit, now in a decent position to pull himself up slightly and attempt to kick Albedo's legs out from under him.

He put some distance between them to avoid that kick, not wanting to risk not being able to jump high enough with his human body. Not being on to properly retreat, he made use of the time not spent attacking by drawing a knife concealed in his sleeve with a snarl.

Naoya grabbed another book for a shield against that knife, and pulled himself to his feet. The threat of injury he didn't care about, but it would just be so terribly inconvenient for him right now.

Well, he wasn't going to be leaving her side any time soon with him her, so he would oblige and settle in the chair beside her. ...Of course, that's when one of the cats decides that Gilgamesh makes the perfect chair and leaps onto his shoulders.

Sigh.

"I'm still not sure I'm okay with them."

"You like lions. These are more marketable than lions," V/V reasoned. "It's easier to feed a lot of them and more people have experience taking care of them, so it'll be easier to hire people for less pay to look after them."

She paused. "But I still like your lions better."

"Household felines are much more fussy, though. ...But I suppose you have a point. Mongrels are more familiar with them than they would be my lions. ...And I also agree."

That said, he's pulling the cat off of his head and dropping it in from of V/V. It doesn't seem to mind, since it's totally nuzzling up to her and meowing. Gilgamesh may have let out a small chuckle.

"As expected. They like you already."

Awww. V/V gives it a few good pettings. "I like them too. They're something nice to come back to."

"That's really the only reason I agreed to it. I knew you would enjoy them. Otherwise, I would have fired that failure of a woman on the spot and kicked the strays back out."

"You're really, really nice to me, Gilgamesh."

If she'd been scared a few minutes, her body language didn't show it at all.

And now he'll be folding his arms over the bar and laying his head upon them. A lazy king is obviously the best.

"...Of course I am."

He's not actually trying to cover it up with a bluff for once? Weird.

"Mmm. I love you." She looks away from him for a moment, returning her attention to the cat she's petting.

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In A Corner Of The World [Open]

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