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It had been a seriously long day. He spent the better part of the morning listening to people around town, but one piece of information had caught his ear: people in black coats with silver crosses. Lavi had never encountered anyone like that before, but his best guess was these were the Exorcists involved in the war against the Noah.
So far, the Noah had been less than pleasant. Many of them had threatened his life if he ever talked about them to anyone else. He reassured them that he would only hand his information down to his own apprentice. That was how the Bookman Clan worked. That was how it had always been. He was sworn to secrecy by the Clan.
The only one who he'd met so far who hadn't threatened him was Tyki, the Noah of Pleasure. Indulging in whatever his heart desired had Lavi curious about what his abilities were. Most likely supernatural and probably frightening, no doubt. But so far, the man had only challenged him to a game of poker, which Lavi proceeded to fail miserably. Even with a perfect memory, Lavi's natural ability to count the cards did him absolutely no good.
Lavi sighed and returned to his book, curled up on a small sofa in the parlor. No one was around so it was a perfect place to simply keep to his book until the nightlife kicked into action. It was from those who indulged in such nightlife that often held the best information about the people in the area. It was possible that they also held more information about these mysterious people in black coats.
Now, the Earl had loaned him a few encyclopedia-sized books from his personal collection, believing this would keep Lavi busy for some time while he sent his Noah out on tasks. But the Earl had no idea how fast Lavi could read and the Bookman quickly found himself almost done with his last book.
Sensing someone nearby he suddenly looked up, spotting a very odd pair staring back at him curiously. He'd seen the pair before within the two weeks he'd been with the Noah, one threatened his life while the other simply laughed. Then both simply left and he hadn't seen them again.
The blond with the bugged eyes leaned over the back of the couch, observing the Bookman, cautiously as if he were going to suddenly bite. Lavi simply smiled back at him with his usual inviting and pleasant guise.
The pair frowned, then took the guns they usually pointed at each other and pointed them at Lavi's forehead. Lavi's expression remained unchanged, while inside he was shaking like a leaf. He'd nearly lost his life years ago when a stray bullet found its way into his shoulder, but this was another story. He had two crazed Noah pointing their guns at him. Seems this day would be longer than he had hoped.
“What's your deal, Red?” Debitt demanded.
Lavi continued to wear a pleasant smile. “I'm simply here to record history.”
“You better not be lying, heee,” Jasdero added.
“I'm a Bookman,” Lavi replied, “a neutral historian here to record the unwritten history.”
“That's it?”
“That's it.” It was the truth, probably the only bit of truth Lavi had really told. He had no reason to tell these people anything about himself or his past. That was his own record, no one else's. No amounts of questioning would ever get him to tell his records. Only the Clan and his potential apprentice would ever know.
“The Earl has a task for you two.”
“Huh?” The pair turned to find Tyki standing behind them with one hand on either shoulder. They frowned, glared at Lavi, then promptly left. Those two had the Bookman incredibly curious. They didn't seem like Rhode and Tyki one bit. Those two seemed more like noblemen, but these two acted like common thugs. They also seemed to act in unison, as if one knew what the other was thinking. He didn't even know their names.
“They're always like that,” Tyki sighed, pulling off his gloves then tucking them into his pocket. He stared at Lavi for a moment before moving to sit down across the coffee table from him. He always felt like he was being watched. Tyki had heard about legends of the Bookman, but this one was definitely not what he had expected. Bright red hair, one curious green eye, and a constantly pleasant demeanor. Who was he really?
“How about a game of cards?” Tyki offered, pulling a black and white checked deck from his pocket. It was the same deck he had used to challenge Lavi on their previous meeting.
The Bookman smiled. “Sure,” he replied pleasantly.
Obviously this Lavi didn't know how tricky Tyki was. He was a cheater. He stacked the deck, hid cards, and generally cheated altogether. He played dirty and played to win. With a placid grin drawn across his face, Tyki shuffled the cards, then dealt both a hand. His golden eyes fixed on Lavi as the Bookman picked up his hand and studied it.
Lavi's expression remained unchanged despite the pathetic hand he'd been dealt. But there was a little hope in this hand. He had one pair, so perhaps if he drew more cards, he'd be able to get better cards and win before they revealed their hands. Last time, Lavi wasn't entirely sure how to play the game, but this time he was prepared.
Tyki's fingers tapped the cards in his hand. “What brings you here, Bookman?”
Lavi rearranged his hand as he drew a card. “To record history.”
Tyki wasn't quite satisfied with that answer. “What really brings you here?”
“History,” Lavi repeated, discarding a card. His hand was still terrible.
Tyki frowned, picking up another card. Well at least it looked like he picked a card. He was cheating, of course, drawing only the best cards. “That's it?”
Lavi nodded, his emerald eye fixed on Tyki. Lavi wanted to see how this Noah played cards. He suspected Tyki was good, but was he lucky too?
Tyki discarded a card, glancing back at Lavi. “Is that all you Bookman are interested in?”
“Essentially,” Lavi replied. His personal agenda did not exist. He was a Bookman, a nameless historian. He threw out his true self long ago.
“All you do is record history?” Tyki asked, tapping his cheek with his fingers. He was genuinely curious about this creature that sat in front of him. There was much more to this Bookman than he was letting on and Tyki wanted to know what it was. He was the most interesting human Tyki had ever come across.
Lavi nodded once again, discarding yet another pathetic card. “I've dedicated my life to it.”
“Everything?” Tyki inquired, legitimately picking up a card from the top of the pile to make it appear he's not cheating.
“That which is not written,” Lavi replied simply. “The Noah have eluded history for centuries. That's why I'm here, to learn the unwritten history.”
He sure was stubborn, unchanging in his answer. This Lavi was more mysterious than he thought. He'd get into his mind eventually. “Call.” Smirking, Tyki presented the cards in his hand. “Straight flush.”
He was good. Lavi's hand was terrible when he presented it. “One pair.” Still the same pair he started with.
Tyki gathered his cards then reshuffled them. “Care for another round?”
Lavi grinned as usual. “Sure.” He was curious how Tyki was always able to get the best hand every time. The man had to be cheating but Lavi hadn't any clue as to how.
Tyki dealt another hand, and despite Lavi's expression, his hand was once again pathetic.
“I'm interested in hearin' more 'bout this Noah ability'a yours,” Lavi spoke, drawing another pathetic card.
“Oh?” Tyki drew a few cards and discarded some in return. “Call.” He laid out a royal straight flush.
Lavi stared, his expression shifting to surprise for the first time since they started. His hand was just simply one pair, just like the previous round. “You're cheatin', aren't ya?”
“Quite the accusation, Bookman.” Tyki gathered the cards and offered the pile to Lavi. “Here, shuffle. I can't stack the deck when you've shuffled and cut it.”
He had a point. Lavi shuffled carefully. “Now these abilities of yours.”
“I'll show you, if you can win a round,” Tyki smirked.
“Deal,” Lavi agreed, dealing out the cards and placing the remaining deck between them. He picked up his hand, quickly memorizing the cards, then quickly watching Tyki. The Bookman was certain Tyki was cheating. Silently Tyki drew his cards without any funny business. Lavi drew his card and only for a brief second, he took his eyes off his opponent. It was that brief moment that Tyki craftily exchanged the cards in his hand, cheating and giving himself the best possible hand.
Lavi discarded, and Tyki drew. “Call.” He laid out another royal flush.
Lavi frowned at his hand. A pair. “Another round.”
“As you wish~” Tyki smirked. There was no way the Bookman would be able to pay attention to both his hand and Tyki's at the same time. The next rounds all went the same way, Tyki with a fantastic hand and Lavi lucky if he got even a pair.
“It's getting late,” Tyki sighed, gathering up the cards. Lavi hadn't even come close to winning a single hand. He stood up and tucked the cards into his suit jacket, then began to leave the room, but as he left, he stopped at the sofa. “I'll tell you one thing, Bookman.”
Lavi looked up at Tyki, his green eye fixed on the Noah curiously.
“The entire game,” Tyki informed his redhead opponent, “I cheated.”
So far, the Noah had been less than pleasant. Many of them had threatened his life if he ever talked about them to anyone else. He reassured them that he would only hand his information down to his own apprentice. That was how the Bookman Clan worked. That was how it had always been. He was sworn to secrecy by the Clan.
The only one who he'd met so far who hadn't threatened him was Tyki, the Noah of Pleasure. Indulging in whatever his heart desired had Lavi curious about what his abilities were. Most likely supernatural and probably frightening, no doubt. But so far, the man had only challenged him to a game of poker, which Lavi proceeded to fail miserably. Even with a perfect memory, Lavi's natural ability to count the cards did him absolutely no good.
Lavi sighed and returned to his book, curled up on a small sofa in the parlor. No one was around so it was a perfect place to simply keep to his book until the nightlife kicked into action. It was from those who indulged in such nightlife that often held the best information about the people in the area. It was possible that they also held more information about these mysterious people in black coats.
Now, the Earl had loaned him a few encyclopedia-sized books from his personal collection, believing this would keep Lavi busy for some time while he sent his Noah out on tasks. But the Earl had no idea how fast Lavi could read and the Bookman quickly found himself almost done with his last book.
Sensing someone nearby he suddenly looked up, spotting a very odd pair staring back at him curiously. He'd seen the pair before within the two weeks he'd been with the Noah, one threatened his life while the other simply laughed. Then both simply left and he hadn't seen them again.
The blond with the bugged eyes leaned over the back of the couch, observing the Bookman, cautiously as if he were going to suddenly bite. Lavi simply smiled back at him with his usual inviting and pleasant guise.
The pair frowned, then took the guns they usually pointed at each other and pointed them at Lavi's forehead. Lavi's expression remained unchanged, while inside he was shaking like a leaf. He'd nearly lost his life years ago when a stray bullet found its way into his shoulder, but this was another story. He had two crazed Noah pointing their guns at him. Seems this day would be longer than he had hoped.
“What's your deal, Red?” Debitt demanded.
Lavi continued to wear a pleasant smile. “I'm simply here to record history.”
“You better not be lying, heee,” Jasdero added.
“I'm a Bookman,” Lavi replied, “a neutral historian here to record the unwritten history.”
“That's it?”
“That's it.” It was the truth, probably the only bit of truth Lavi had really told. He had no reason to tell these people anything about himself or his past. That was his own record, no one else's. No amounts of questioning would ever get him to tell his records. Only the Clan and his potential apprentice would ever know.
“The Earl has a task for you two.”
“Huh?” The pair turned to find Tyki standing behind them with one hand on either shoulder. They frowned, glared at Lavi, then promptly left. Those two had the Bookman incredibly curious. They didn't seem like Rhode and Tyki one bit. Those two seemed more like noblemen, but these two acted like common thugs. They also seemed to act in unison, as if one knew what the other was thinking. He didn't even know their names.
“They're always like that,” Tyki sighed, pulling off his gloves then tucking them into his pocket. He stared at Lavi for a moment before moving to sit down across the coffee table from him. He always felt like he was being watched. Tyki had heard about legends of the Bookman, but this one was definitely not what he had expected. Bright red hair, one curious green eye, and a constantly pleasant demeanor. Who was he really?
“How about a game of cards?” Tyki offered, pulling a black and white checked deck from his pocket. It was the same deck he had used to challenge Lavi on their previous meeting.
The Bookman smiled. “Sure,” he replied pleasantly.
Obviously this Lavi didn't know how tricky Tyki was. He was a cheater. He stacked the deck, hid cards, and generally cheated altogether. He played dirty and played to win. With a placid grin drawn across his face, Tyki shuffled the cards, then dealt both a hand. His golden eyes fixed on Lavi as the Bookman picked up his hand and studied it.
Lavi's expression remained unchanged despite the pathetic hand he'd been dealt. But there was a little hope in this hand. He had one pair, so perhaps if he drew more cards, he'd be able to get better cards and win before they revealed their hands. Last time, Lavi wasn't entirely sure how to play the game, but this time he was prepared.
Tyki's fingers tapped the cards in his hand. “What brings you here, Bookman?”
Lavi rearranged his hand as he drew a card. “To record history.”
Tyki wasn't quite satisfied with that answer. “What really brings you here?”
“History,” Lavi repeated, discarding a card. His hand was still terrible.
Tyki frowned, picking up another card. Well at least it looked like he picked a card. He was cheating, of course, drawing only the best cards. “That's it?”
Lavi nodded, his emerald eye fixed on Tyki. Lavi wanted to see how this Noah played cards. He suspected Tyki was good, but was he lucky too?
Tyki discarded a card, glancing back at Lavi. “Is that all you Bookman are interested in?”
“Essentially,” Lavi replied. His personal agenda did not exist. He was a Bookman, a nameless historian. He threw out his true self long ago.
“All you do is record history?” Tyki asked, tapping his cheek with his fingers. He was genuinely curious about this creature that sat in front of him. There was much more to this Bookman than he was letting on and Tyki wanted to know what it was. He was the most interesting human Tyki had ever come across.
Lavi nodded once again, discarding yet another pathetic card. “I've dedicated my life to it.”
“Everything?” Tyki inquired, legitimately picking up a card from the top of the pile to make it appear he's not cheating.
“That which is not written,” Lavi replied simply. “The Noah have eluded history for centuries. That's why I'm here, to learn the unwritten history.”
He sure was stubborn, unchanging in his answer. This Lavi was more mysterious than he thought. He'd get into his mind eventually. “Call.” Smirking, Tyki presented the cards in his hand. “Straight flush.”
He was good. Lavi's hand was terrible when he presented it. “One pair.” Still the same pair he started with.
Tyki gathered his cards then reshuffled them. “Care for another round?”
Lavi grinned as usual. “Sure.” He was curious how Tyki was always able to get the best hand every time. The man had to be cheating but Lavi hadn't any clue as to how.
Tyki dealt another hand, and despite Lavi's expression, his hand was once again pathetic.
“I'm interested in hearin' more 'bout this Noah ability'a yours,” Lavi spoke, drawing another pathetic card.
“Oh?” Tyki drew a few cards and discarded some in return. “Call.” He laid out a royal straight flush.
Lavi stared, his expression shifting to surprise for the first time since they started. His hand was just simply one pair, just like the previous round. “You're cheatin', aren't ya?”
“Quite the accusation, Bookman.” Tyki gathered the cards and offered the pile to Lavi. “Here, shuffle. I can't stack the deck when you've shuffled and cut it.”
He had a point. Lavi shuffled carefully. “Now these abilities of yours.”
“I'll show you, if you can win a round,” Tyki smirked.
“Deal,” Lavi agreed, dealing out the cards and placing the remaining deck between them. He picked up his hand, quickly memorizing the cards, then quickly watching Tyki. The Bookman was certain Tyki was cheating. Silently Tyki drew his cards without any funny business. Lavi drew his card and only for a brief second, he took his eyes off his opponent. It was that brief moment that Tyki craftily exchanged the cards in his hand, cheating and giving himself the best possible hand.
Lavi discarded, and Tyki drew. “Call.” He laid out another royal flush.
Lavi frowned at his hand. A pair. “Another round.”
“As you wish~” Tyki smirked. There was no way the Bookman would be able to pay attention to both his hand and Tyki's at the same time. The next rounds all went the same way, Tyki with a fantastic hand and Lavi lucky if he got even a pair.
“It's getting late,” Tyki sighed, gathering up the cards. Lavi hadn't even come close to winning a single hand. He stood up and tucked the cards into his suit jacket, then began to leave the room, but as he left, he stopped at the sofa. “I'll tell you one thing, Bookman.”
Lavi looked up at Tyki, his green eye fixed on the Noah curiously.
“The entire game,” Tyki informed his redhead opponent, “I cheated.”
