>>68141590>There’s an audible crack as she’s speaking. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to notice - and doubly thankfully, it doesn’t collapse underneath her. She internally apologizes to the librarian for her transgression as she slings off her backpack, tossing it onto the table.>The pack itself is the same size as the human’s, but the arm-straps have been replaced with hand-sewn bands that could wrap around him twice over. A reminder of just how ungainly her size is.“I’m Gertie! We, uh, have Art together!”
“Cool! I’m Inco.”
“...”
“...”
>He’s rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. Shit, think of something. U-uh, the ice breakers!>...Shit, what were the ice breakers!?“So. You, uh. Like… books?”
“...I haven’t really read any in a while.”
“...Oh.”
>More awkward silence.“Do you… want to?”
>He looks surprised at her question. Is that good? Oh, he’s smiling!“I hadn’t really thought about it, but sure! Why not! I’ve noticed you here every time I walk by, so you know what’s good in here, right?”
>HE’S NOTICING YOU! Of COURSE he’s noticing you, Gertie, he’s got a crush on you! A-and he’s asking you about the library! You can talk about this one! Thank you Raptor Jesus, so much!“...Okay so there’s these books called the Crow Cycle.”
>And just like that, the floodgates open. Gertie doesn’t know how long the tide lasts, she’s too busy gushing over every last book she’s read in the past three years. Romance, horror, adventure, the rotest of derivative schlock and the few gleaming gems in the sea. She hadn’t even realized that she liked books this much until now. Guess you don’t really think about your escapism while you’re, y’know, escaping into it.>She only barely has enough sense to restrain herself whenever it looked like Inco was starting to drown in it. Though… truth be told, he was keeping up pretty well.“-That one sounds awful.”
“HAHA, you have NO idea-”
cont