rho psl

[neonleon]

[The changing of the Golden Guard happened every few years or so. One would be doing fine, then gradually disappear and fade only for a new Golden Guard to be sworn in. Leo had seen it happen a few times as castle staff and security, working on becoming part of the guard team himself under the emperor's coven. It was slow going though, something about him "not being ready" despite having been ready for four years now.

But the newest Golden Guard being sworn in is the youngest yet. Not that Leo can tell behind that mask, but he was shorter, lankier. His voice sounded a lot younger than the previous Golden Guards.

So maybe he'd do some snooping. If he found out a kid younger than him became a Golden Guard, he'll start fighting his superiors. Leo makes his way through the castle like he's on a mission, carrying a box of food to where he knows the previous Golden Guards always ate. He knocks on the door once.]

Delivery.

Comments

[pyrighteous]

[ CLEARLY SOME SHENANIGANS but look at that fanfiction. Delightful. ]

Well then they weren't focused enough on guarding Belos!!

[neonleon]

Looks like they weren't having to guard Belos yet. Power to 'em.

[pyrighteous]

[ SIGH ]

I'm confiscating this. I don't know WHY it's here but I'm going to FIND OUT.

[neonleon]

Hey, I wasn't even here so I'm not saying anything.

[pyrighteous]

W-well - yes! This is clearly from before your time.

[ He slams the book closed - and a single sheet of paper falls out of it. ]

[neonleon]

We aren't even supposed to be here now, so we definitely didn't see this.

[Even still, he leans down to pick the paper up.]

[pyrighteous]

[ There's a single circle drawn on it with an odd, angular shape inside of it. ]

... R. Right. I. Should re-hide the box. Just in case.

[neonleon]

[Just.... Looking at that...]

Yeah, definitely. Like we were never here.

[Just. Stuffing that paper in his pocket. Gonna look at that closer later.]

I can get us out no problem.

[pyrighteous]

O-okay, then let's do that! We shouldn't stay here any longer.

[neonleon]

Yeah, probably not. I'd never been in here, so thanks for lighting the way.

[Just putting the box back how they found it before getting his odachi back in hand to portal them out.]

Whenever you're ready.

[pyrighteous]

Yeah uh.

[ Suddenly he has cold prickles. ]

We - we should leave. Now.

[neonleon]

On it.

[Just gets that portal back to the second floor stair landing, still kind of dark since no one is using it.]

After you.

[pyrighteous]

[ Just as they’re through and the last flicker of blue vanishes… a hidden door in the room they just came from opens. And there’s Belos for a split second -

Hunter tumbles out of the portal looking like he’s just had a heart attack. ]

D-did he see us?

[neonleon]

[Leo is likewise having his own panic attack here, making sure the portal is completely gone.]

N-no, I don't think he did. Might've saw a flash of blue for a split second, but not us.

[pyrighteous]

R. Right! We could have been anyone! It’s fine!

Let’s go somewhere completely different!!

[neonleon]

We absolutely should go somewhere completely different, agreed.

[Not Leo just walking them downstairs] You like reading, right? I've got the place. [And then stops at the second floor to head down a different hallway.]

[pyrighteous]

I - uh - I do like reading. Actually. How'd you know?

[ He hurries alongside. ]

[neonleon]

Just got that vibe from you. Call it a hunch.

[That jock-nerd vibe. Jerd.]

[pyrighteous]

[ JERD. ]

You barely even know me.

[neonleon]

I'm good at reading people, don't worry about it.

[It didn't help the previous golden guard was also a jerd.]

[pyrighteous]

I - well - okay that's good then! I'm not so!

[neonleon]

[Leo's expression softens just a little at that. Cute.

Should not fucking think that. Fuck.]

Hey, you got me long as you want me around so I can help with that.

[pyrighteous]

[ RIP LEO ... he is very cute, alas, and so is this face. ]

Let's just go find some books so I can calm down.

[neonleon]

So you can calm do- Oh man, yeah. We're doing that, c'mon.

[He'll walk them down a quieter hallway to a ...Well, it's not the Main Library Hunter's probably used to. But a smaller library door off to the side. There's definitely shelves of books but also shelves of picture books, comics, all kinds of reading that look very well worn.]

Here we are.

[pyrighteous]

[ Smaller library is good, at least. He's going to find a spot to sit and ... uh... ]

What kind of library is this? I've never been here before.