It's a nice library, especially for such a small town, with plenty of everything, but a focus on science and poetry, a well-appointed children's' section, a nice selection of music and holovids, and comfy chairs offering varying amounts of privacy.
Right now, though, it's closing time; the announcements have been made, the final checkout rush handled, and now the librarian is making one last check before she locks up for the night.
"Yeah." She's fond in an entirely different way, now. "He's doing much better without it, even more than I expected."
He nods his agreement. "I- he keeps-" stops himself. Stares at the flames. "Keeps calling me 'sir'." (He's visibly unnerved by the idea of being called 'sir'.)
"I- thank you- uh, if he- it's not- I can- deal, if he doesn't-" He stops talking, not sure he's making any sense.
"It's fine, Nova. One of us should talk to him about it anyway, I just didn't realize it was urgent."
"I- it's- not? But- he- I-" he stops himself from continuing that, not sure what he was even intending to say.
"He doesn't want you to feel uncomfortable around him, Nova. He likes you, and he wants you to like him."
"...oh." He's not used to people wanting that. "I- he's-" he takes a deep breath. "Okay."
"Most people will want that, at least a little; it's a bad sign when someone doesn't. Pradnakt and I want you to like us, and we like you, too."
He smiles, and returns his attention to his flames, not sure how to continue the conversation.
She walks on in silence for a while.
"Have you thought about Pradnakt's secret at all? It's okay if you haven't, but if there's anything you want us to do with that, we will."
He shakes his head slightly. "I- s'her secret?" he says quietly. "I- it's- sometimes. S'all you have?"
"It's not something she wants to keep secret. She's just worried that it'll scare you too much."
He shrugs - and the flames slide up his arms like they're trying to comfort him. "I- don't know," he says. Thinks, maybe, it'll be easier to talk here, where it's just him and Daisy, tries to get his thoughts in order. "I- don't like...waiting for things to happen?" he admits softly. "Wait was sometimes worse than- but- if, Pradnakt thinks it's better, I- don't know."
"She's never needed to do something like this before; she's just guessing what's best. And she won't be upset about it if we decide she's wrong, she'll only be upset if you get hurt." She drifts closer and offers a hug. "I'll tell you when we get to the ledge, okay? We're almost there."
He leans into the hug, careful to make sure the flames don't get too close to Daisy. "Okay."
It's only a little ways farther; she lets him settle himself and then sits next to him to resume the hug, draping her arm over his shoulders in a way that he can easily shrug off if he wants to.
"Are you ready?"
What? No! That- didn't make sense.
His breathing picks up. "I- she- can't. That- th-they said-" He presses his eyes closed, and ducks away from Daisy. (Although from the way his flames flicker up around him immediately, it may be less to do with not wanting the contact, and more to do with not wanting to potentially burn Daisy while he's not in control.)
"It's okay, Nova. She really isn't going to hurt you. Most Sith aren't nice, but she is, you've seen it."
He nods, but he still can't quite make it fit in his head. He takes a moment, trying to slow his breathing.
"They said Sith would- do worse," he manages, obviously trying to work through this. "B-but she- hasn't?"
"Some Sith do," she nods. "But Pradnakt won't. She likes you, and she wants things to be good for you."
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