historicals | pc catchall | turboheaven

There's nowhere that's absolutely perfect... even the Tower. [ spouting wisdom at the ripe old age of seventeen.

anyway he'll take this book, just to peek. he holds it gingerly, since it clearly means a lot to mr. taair. ]

Did you write this? [ iria. that must be the name... is it a town, or a country, he wonders? ] ...But you lived there. What do you mean "from afar?"

...no. [ taair says, with a smile - face turned up to the sky again. there's that name of a place again. that word again. a tower.

... ] ...No, I did not live there. At least, not since I was a very, very small child - and my memories of living there are barely wisps, now.

[ the book is precious indeed - it's sturdy and heavy in laurence's hands, and he doesn't seem to mind if he peeks through it, either. the statement of his memory sits there in between them for a moment, heavy, and taair then takes a deep breath in, lets a deep breath out, and then looks back at laurence for real. ]

But - that is a very long, sad story, and one that is perhaps saved for another time. At any rate, you are correct - I did write this book. It's my life's work, and something I'm very proud of.

[ then how is it home? don't you have to live somewhere for it to be home? the next questions on the tip of his tongue that he can't quite put a voice to.

instead he focuses on the book. he doesn't expect to understand anything in it, but he's always been curious, despite so may years of trying to repress that instinct. it's a bad habit, he'd told himself - not something to be indulged. but he'd gotten lax in the past few weeks or so. and if they're really dead, what can it hurt?

his hands eventually pause, and laurence closes the book, sensing it's time to return it. a sad story... although curious, he doesn't press. no one likes someone prying into things like that. ]

I can see why. It must have taken a ton of work to do it. [ ... ] How'd you do it? News reports, or letters or something?

[ he takes the book when it's given back, setting it back in his lap and smoothing his hand over the cover. it's precious, maybe even more precious here. a last reminder of a place he's barely ever known.

he doesn't seem to mind the questions, either - the curiosity is encouraged, and he smiles at it, leaning on the book a little to look at him. ]

Letters, diaries, journals, battle records, medical records... nearly anything I could get my hands on! Standard histories did exist, so I would cross-check different versions of those to find inconsistencies and then research those... And of course, books that came from Iria as opposed to those from the Papal States - those were by far my most precious resource.

I once also snuck out to interview political prisoners [ he lowers his voice here to a whisper - a little playfully. ] But that was a secret.

Wow. Something like that would take forever. [ but then, "life's work" is what he'd said. ] Were the books from the... the Papal States wrong, or something? Shouldn't they all have the same information?

[ local teen doesn't know about propaganda

anyway he leans back, appropriately shocked at this little secret. mr. taair, how scandalous?! ]

You snuck out to talk to prisoners? Isn't that dangerous?

Well. They should all have the same information, yes - you're right. They should have the truth. But... some people have a vested interest that a certain version of history is told to the masses, and those people have quite a bit of power. That's the reason why I started to write.

[ to expose propaganda, to expose the truth. to find justice for his beloved iria.

the leaning back delights him a little - he smiles with it, curling a fist in front of himself. ] Well, we must be brave in the pursuit of truth, no? [ but, this might just be a little dramatic - he laughs and waves his hand afterwards, clearing it. ]

...and besides, the men who were kept prisoner are people, just the same as you and I. They posed no danger to me - like most people, they simply wanted their stories to be told. So.. I wrote them down.

It was rather exciting, though. I thought I'd be caught more than once.

[ hmmm that feels a little too unnerving to ask about further, at least right now. there's a lot to process, still. ]

I guess some people do have things to hide... [ but the history of an entire country? isn't that too much?

"just people," taair says. laurence's gaze falls to the ground in front of them, uncomfortable. ]

You seem so sure about that. They must have been prisoners for a reason, right? How do you really know they weren't dangerous?

These two things were connected.

[ he says, lifting his hands, drawing a line in the air. laurence's brief discomfort doesn't go unnoticed, but he sets it aside for now, as he explains. ]

The history of the country, lacking truth - and the prisoners, kept in the prison of the Papal States. Irians have a long, deep hatred for the Papal States because of that mistreatment, and similarly, the Papal States are often suspicious of the motives of Irians within their borders, especially if they are considered out of bounds with normal activities, whatever those might be.

I did talk with them over their crimes, but... whether they were fairly convicted is a story I only had one side of. Still, they told me much about Iria, and about the histories of their fathers and themselves, and for that I was quite grateful.

[ head tilt. ]

But if that's true, why would you stay in the Papal States?

[ shouldn't you go somewhere safe? or is that part of that sad story taair mentioned? there must be something slipping past his understanding. ]

It sounds like you risked a lot just to write a history book. Was it really worth it? Will anyone read it?

Why would I stay, indeed.

[ he says with a very soft, very slight smile but doesn't extrapolate beyond that. ]

And... yes - I have at least one reader. [ there's fondness there, though, that sad little smile melting into one much warmer. ] I didn't end up finishing my work - my hope was to collect interviews for ten more years in Iria, but...well. I'm here, now, so it will have to remain unfinished.

My hope was to publish it for all to see. But... the friend who I left my knowledge with - I know that he will ensure it is protected, and shared with the Irians in whatever manner is possible. And...if I can provide the truth to even one person that yearns for it, then maybe I will have made a difference in the world.

[ what does that mean mr. taair!! he doesn't understand!! sincere confusion clouds his expression, but laurence listens quietly, solemn as the subject matter dictates. death really is a bummer for everyone, huh. all this unfinished business they all have. maybe that's why they're stuck in this place. ]

I'm sorry you couldn't finish it. Hopefully you can get your wish to watch over them soon, so you can know for sure.

[ ... ]

Can... Can I read it? I probably won't understand it all, but...

[ trails off awkwardly. not that laurence can "make a difference" like taair wants, but... one more person to honor all that hard work. it sounds important, even if he wouldn't know what to do about it himself. ]

[ it's weekend zero you can't have my tragic backstory yet

but while he smiles a little gratefully at the first bit, it's the second that lights up taair's face. joy, though muted, is clearly present. ]

...you'd like to, really? [ soft, a little surprised - but he immediately turns the book back towards laurence. ] Laurence...of course you can. I - nothing would make me happier.

You will have to let me know what you think - and of course, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate and I'll be happy to explain. I tried my best to ensure it was understandable to anyone, so... ah. [ there's a brief little rise of something emotional - and he smiles, again, further, ducking his head. ] Thank you - thank you. Really.

[ oh god not the emotions? he immediately looks away, embarrassed, and crosses his arms. ]

I-I mean, it's not like we have anything better to do. The spa isn't really my kind of place. Might as well read something. You don't have to... thank me for it.

[ grumble grumble it's not like i care or anything ]

Oh, but I must! It's not every day an author gets to speak with his readers, you know. This brings me up to a grand total of two!

[ he sounds very excited about this even though it's sad. ]

I do hope that this place will continue to expand. Is there something you'd like to see here, Laurence? Something you really like to do?

...If you say so. But I'm still not the intended audience, right?

[ it is a little sad but who is laurence to judge when all he's written are essays his teachers probably hated

hmmm, something he'd want to see? ]

...A track so I can run, maybe, but I guess I don't need that if this place keeps getting bigger. [ there's so much room. no one should get mad if he goes for a jog if they have all that space, should they? ] I'm not really sure what else. Most of the time when I wasn't in class, I was in the sports areas with my friends. A library, maybe?

pc catchall | turboheaven | laurence

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