The once-dead city has found new life as more and more travelers wandered into its walls. Though everything remains in a state of decay and disarray, it's not odd to find a stranger in a place that was likely a ghost town just a week prior. Otherwise, split from his group, the Medicine Seller would have likely surprised him. As it is, Light turns to face him, adding a book to the table in order to flip through its pages. Nonetheless, it's an odd greeting as if this man is comfortable in this setting. Is that a question to be asked by someone who was a stranger to this place?
Is he a stranger to this place? It's enough to catch Light's attention.
"Probably nothing that everybody else isn't looking for."
His voice is smooth and warm, welcoming the Medicine Seller to the conversation.
"Have you had the time to look through the library?"
"For a given measure of 'looking through'," he remarks idly, adding a few more rescued tomes to the pile of books that are still legible, let alone in reasonable shape.
It's not a very big pile.
"I do not know yet what is useful - "
Which is evident by the faded cover depicting a man with an oiled and impressively chiseled chest holding a woman with an equally impressive bosom practically pouring out of her corset, their glossy hair blowing in a dramatic wind with a vibrant sunset as a backdrop. There is also a horse there, for some reason.
"- only that it is perhaps wise to retrieve whatever can still be read before time further claims them."
He adds what he's found to the pile.
"Though I confess I do not know what everybody else is looking for."
The book catches Light's eye before he can look away.
"They're likely not looking for that book particularly." His tone is jovial enough that the comment obviously isn't actually an open judgment. While Light doubts the book will be helpful, it's best to gather anything that can be preserved.
"But to answer the real question, we're looking for information. Aren't you curious about this place?"
A hand gestures around the room, but Light's referring more to this new, deserted town. In his limited experience, this town is likely to hold important information.
"Especially since it appears while other things have been weird."
Well, if no one else wants it, he'll keep it. It's well suited to his rather eccentric proclativities, and it'd be a shame to let it rot.
"I am. But information must be found and preserved, surely?"
He smiles in a vague sort of way, eyes following the sweeping gesture around the abandoned library. There is a drawn out pause as he considers the rotting ruins around them, and the city beyond.
"If the Tower falters further - do you suppose that we will be able to access more places beyond Trench? Will its death be our own?"
It's a heavy question with no distinct answer. There are too many unknowns regarding the makeup of this world no matter the rumors and what history is available to them. Light's done his research, he has his theories, but he also has his questions.
"There are parts of this world being hidden from us, we know that. We don't know how much, or what's beyond it. It could break us from our bonds only for us to find something more dangerous outside. That's my official answer."
Light pauses to better study the Medicine Seller.
"If you're asking which answer motivates me... I think its fall will do all of that, and not all of us would survive it. We're given enhanced abilities, but the people native to Trench aren't."
"Official answer," he chuckles to himself. "I am just a medicine seller. Not a detective."
At least not the kind interested in the laws of humans. Those change almost as frequently as the seasons, and he can never hope to keep current. And Light isn't exactly giving any signs or signals of being possessed by an Ayakashi.
"But you are right. The two are not exclusive."
Some may argue there is a kind of freedom in death, after all.
"We have managed to come to this place. Perhaps we can further break through to other places without the Tower expiring of ...whatever ails him."
He isn't saying it's possible, either. In theory, he assumes so unless proven otherwise, but this world is still quite a mystery.
"The answer might be hidden in these books. There might be a map or mention of visits to the other places."
Or tacky romance books.
"When we go back, we'll write about this place. If those aren't hidden, that's how the next group will know this town exists. Somebody might have done the same here."
Indeed, for all the Medicine Seller knows, the books he's been collecting are useless. But they won't know until their contents have been thoroughly examined.
"So much of Trench and its surroundings are an endless mystery."
He picks a book at random, and pushes it towards Light.
"Speculation will only get us so far in a place where anything is possible."
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<3 thank you
Is he a stranger to this place? It's enough to catch Light's attention.
"Probably nothing that everybody else isn't looking for."
His voice is smooth and warm, welcoming the Medicine Seller to the conversation.
"Have you had the time to look through the library?"
cw for description of 80s romance novel covers
It's not a very big pile.
"I do not know yet what is useful - "
Which is evident by the faded cover depicting a man with an oiled and impressively chiseled chest holding a woman with an equally impressive bosom practically pouring out of her corset, their glossy hair blowing in a dramatic wind with a vibrant sunset as a backdrop. There is also a horse there, for some reason.
"- only that it is perhaps wise to retrieve whatever can still be read before time further claims them."
He adds what he's found to the pile.
"Though I confess I do not know what everybody else is looking for."
valid warning
"They're likely not looking for that book particularly." His tone is jovial enough that the comment obviously isn't actually an open judgment. While Light doubts the book will be helpful, it's best to gather anything that can be preserved.
"But to answer the real question, we're looking for information. Aren't you curious about this place?"
A hand gestures around the room, but Light's referring more to this new, deserted town. In his limited experience, this town is likely to hold important information.
"Especially since it appears while other things have been weird."
no subject
"I am. But information must be found and preserved, surely?"
He smiles in a vague sort of way, eyes following the sweeping gesture around the abandoned library. There is a drawn out pause as he considers the rotting ruins around them, and the city beyond.
"If the Tower falters further - do you suppose that we will be able to access more places beyond Trench? Will its death be our own?"
He hums, eyes wandering to the cracked ceiling.
"Or the breaking of our binds?"
...Among other things.
no subject
It's a heavy question with no distinct answer. There are too many unknowns regarding the makeup of this world no matter the rumors and what history is available to them. Light's done his research, he has his theories, but he also has his questions.
"There are parts of this world being hidden from us, we know that. We don't know how much, or what's beyond it. It could break us from our bonds only for us to find something more dangerous outside. That's my official answer."
Light pauses to better study the Medicine Seller.
"If you're asking which answer motivates me... I think its fall will do all of that, and not all of us would survive it. We're given enhanced abilities, but the people native to Trench aren't."
no subject
At least not the kind interested in the laws of humans. Those change almost as frequently as the seasons, and he can never hope to keep current. And Light isn't exactly giving any signs or signals of being possessed by an Ayakashi.
"But you are right. The two are not exclusive."
Some may argue there is a kind of freedom in death, after all.
"We have managed to come to this place. Perhaps we can further break through to other places without the Tower expiring of ...whatever ails him."
no subject
He isn't saying it's possible, either. In theory, he assumes so unless proven otherwise, but this world is still quite a mystery.
"The answer might be hidden in these books. There might be a map or mention of visits to the other places."
Or tacky romance books.
"When we go back, we'll write about this place. If those aren't hidden, that's how the next group will know this town exists. Somebody might have done the same here."
no subject
"So much of Trench and its surroundings are an endless mystery."
He picks a book at random, and pushes it towards Light.
"Speculation will only get us so far in a place where anything is possible."
no subject
"Not far enough," he agrees before pulling the book closer. Thus the reason for the research. "But it's not a bad starting point."
With a small lift of his lips, Light gestures to the romance book.
"But I'll be leaving that one to you."