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──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────work was simple, as it had always been. rei easily fell into the familiar, monotonous routine of cataloguing and shelving the books that had been returned by the library's patrons. there were few people who were also taking care of the books, much fewer than they were used to, but they paid the detail no heed; it didn't matter if there were less hands to help around. either way, the work had to be done, and rei would be damned if they let such a thing distract them from their duties.
besides, something about the quiet was calming and oddly comforting to rei. even if they felt like they were much more used to the hustle of a busier life, solitude was a rare treat that they would seldom indulge in.
(
"you've always been so troublesome," they had murmured in exasperation, but not unkindly. they knelt before their charge, a young noble boy who was fighting back tears, and pressed a gentle hand to his injured knee. the pain made the boy jolt, and rei memphis hummed to themselves. "well, we're out of options now. i apologize for my impudence, but i believe i'll have to carry you home." )
hands stilling at the memory, rei's eyebrows knit together into a pensive expression. it seemed so nostalgic, so distant, so fleeting ... and yet, they had never lived such a life.
not as rei, perhaps.(
they leaned against the worn cobblestone of the bridge, overlooking the river that twisted lazily through the city. memphis heard the footsteps before anything else, and without even raising their head, a small smile graced their lips. it could only be xaxx, after all; who else would've been daring enough to approach the elite guard of the noble family that controlled this city?
"nothing to do today, memphis?" the voice called out, and they hummed.
"my charge allowed me a break. i was just catching a breather; i'll return to his side shortly."
"whatever you say ... just remember to take care, okay?"
"of course." )
a thud resounded in the room, and when rei returned to their senses, they were distantly aware of the sets of eyes on their being. hands shaking, they bent down and picked up the book that they dropped, mumbling a quiet
"apologies for the disturbance" to everyone else. eventually, they all looked away, and rei was left to their own devices. their heart hammered in their chest, pressing against their ribcage, and their hands.
wouldn't.
stop.
shaking.
head pounding, rei stood up with a screech of their chair.
"excuse me," they gasped out, but no one seemed to hear. all of a sudden, the silence was deafening, and mist was starting to gather at their hands. they nodded uneasily at whoever caught their eye, before rushing out of the room.
if this had happened on their old job, then
rei memphis rei would've failed.
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