ORIGIN - bookwyrm picnic :)

Cepheus is, by no means, sparsely-populated. No, the palace certainly hosts a great number of guests and tenants alike: Isra, Nedies, their cleaning cohorts if they could be considered as such, a particular Miss Aethril and Pollen, though he never willfully darkens the former's doorstep for lack of reason to speak with her. (As much as he would like to wheedle her about the places she had been before here, surely from so far beyond!)

But, all of the aforementioneds are permanent residents, and they don't often linger in the library anymore; and the library, despite all its grandeur, isn't the easiest to find, nor is it the most glamorous, high-vaulted hall in all of the palace— and even he will confess to understanding how unattractive and useless something like books might seem to someone more motivated by surviving and comprehending the world in a more tactile way. Unattractive to children, mostly.

Perhaps, he is just a mite lonely. The recent incursion upon his abode was proof as such.

And so, Menkheperre conceives of a plan as simple as bringing his studies out from the palace walls.

... less valuable studies, at least. Some of his more ancient and treasured tomes remain in the safety of their more private shelving units.

As it were, the Valkhound lies on his belly out on the grounds, comfortable atop a gingham cloth far too small to encompass his full splooting form stretching long; mind utterly contented with the sound of his quill scraping paper and the gentle sound of water tumbling over the stones in the river. The Voidlight above makes for a poor light to transcribe to, but he makes do with his practiced hand and the glimmering bauble tucked into the crook of his elbow; making sure to be certain about every stroke and translation, thrice-checking and sketching annotations first into the original book before taking that final pass on the blank bindings in front of him.

His hope is that the sight is something that will induce curiosity. A flashy mote of blue magic here, another there— patterns etching themselves into the book for just a little while— to stand out against the dim light of Cepheus as a whole.

And if that isn't it, perhaps the scent of warm, fresh-baked cookies and milk from Nedies.. ?

Menkheperre pauses to put one into his mouth, sighing softly with quiet bliss. Even if his scheme fails, the change of scenery and dessert is serving as a wonderful salve for his mind.

Cain had a number of tasks to complete, something about busy paws being happy paws. Couldn't worry about weakness if you didn't stop long enough to wallow. It had left Master Vargas's conversation in higher spirits and rode those winds freely into the wonderful violet half-light of Cepheus.

It might have swept toward the Palace, to find its way deeper into the library, but fate was smiling upon it today it seemed. A familiar face of a Valkhound splayed out among the rolling grasses along side Cepheus's gentle river, glistening in gilded warm brown hues. Flashes of azure painted runes into the air as if to make certain that Cain didn't miss the creature buried deep in its tomes.

The lithe form of the Overseer landed in the grass only a few paces away, nose sniffing at the scent of wondrous milk. A hard blink into focus as it raised its ears high and pranced closer, tail swishing. It could indulge later.

"Good day," came its honey-warmed voice, ruby eyes flicking over the pages that the valkhound was looking over. "You are one of the library-keepers, yes? I am Overseer Cain." It was perhaps a touch formal for the occasion, but Cain was trying to make a good impression. Its magic rolled across its fur, releasing a faint pheromone-- nothing too overwhelming-- just enough to incur a natural calm and friendly air.

"I recall you attending the literacy lesson in Draco. I don't think I caught your name...?"

@Menkheperre

Aerys

• She's got a heart of gold but she suffers in her soul •
This place was gorgeous. Absolutely stunning to her and she found herself wide eyed and curious as she wandered around, her head high and her tail waving gently behind her. Across her body was her seal skin bag, hanging against her flank and bumping against her side slightly as she walked, but she didn't seem to mind. Various herbs and plants were kept inside, a way for her to gather much needed medical items and keep them with her for when needed.

Right now though, it wasn't healing that was on her mind, but knowledge, wanting to know what hidden treasures of information this place held. As she wandered deeper though, a couple voices caught her attention and she peaked out from around the corner, flicking an ear as she watched them for a moment. She felt bad for just stalking from the shadows, but she wasn't very good at introducing herself, so she just stepped out and gave a little awkward. Uh hello..

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

@Cain @Menkheperre

Time passes, and then— (surprisingly, he must admit!)— not one, but two Gembound come loping over the violet hills. Well, one comes down from above; the other creeps up with much more hesitation. Both are welcomed with full attention once Menkheperre notices them at all.

Leaving his transcriptions open and available for either curious eye to ogle at, the Valkhound acknowledges 'Cain' first with a polite dip of the head. "You would be correct, Overseer Cain." Then, he glances to his books and utters a laugh that sounds like someone wringing their wrists with embarrassment. "Oh, I was very young and still awe-struck by the world, then. I might have forgotten to introduce myself at any of those lessons, really."

Working alongside Master Astraea and sharing knowledge had perhaps been a little too exciting for him to remember a formality like that. At least here, he can remember to spare all of that pleasantry before jumping right into the annotations: "Menkheperre, Scribe of the Light Below. Pleased to meet you more formally, Overseer."

His gaze flicks toward the other visitor, curiously ogling her sealskin bag before meeting her gaze more directly and smiling with his eyes as he offers an equally as polite dip of the head. "And you, as well!" Has she visited before? he wonders, then recalls the prior circumstances of being cooped-up that have led him out here, and concludes that he, of course, wouldn't know that. "Welcome to Cepheus..?"

@Cain @Aerys