If there was one thing Elsian liked quite a bit it was reading. Back home books had been one of the things to keep him sane, something to look forward to between lessons and events and while Hogwarts did have an impressive library they didn't exactly have a big selection of the books he actually wanted to read. Or to be precise, muggle books.

That said, he'd die before admitting it. But the fact remained the loss of the books he had back home was like a hole in his chest whenever he went to read and realized that no. He couldn't read that book. That author wouldn't have any of their works at Hogwarts or anywhere near him for that matter.

It was driving him insane. To the point where he'd caved in and come here after finding absolutely nothing that could hold his attention in the library.

He had found a few books that seemed nice and yet...somehow he felt so unsatisfied. All the muggle fiction he'd read...Bea had been right. It'd ruined him the moment he got a taste for it. Poisoned his taste like a parasite and none of these books felt good enough because of it!

"Ugh, is this what auntie felt like?" he mumbled to himself, eyeballing a book that seemed to be on cooking. "Is this what withdrawal feels like? If so I have so much more respect for her now..."

Ugh wait no. He shook his head, swatting away the thoughts as he pushed the book into the shelf where he'd found it. This was the same woman who'd tried to dress him up as a girl after she claimed she had an adorable niece.

No...oh no she'd lost all his respect the moment she'd brought ruffles into the mix while sober. Drunk he might have forgiven but sober?

Never.

@Sage Greenwood

Sage walked down the street, clutching her bunny plushie. She was hoping to find something to help her feel more like home. She has had more trouble trying to make friends than she thought. As she thought about her cure predicament, she spotted a store that sold books.  A huge grin spread across her face, maybe she could find some fairytale stories! She skipped to the door and went in, getting the smell of old books.

Sage gave a smile and small wave to the person sitting at the counter. She starts looking over the shelves, hoping to see any familiar title, but nothing stands out. She lets out a sigh of disappointment, until she notices someone else scouring the shelves. Maybe they would know if there is any books she would like.

 Sage walked towards where the boy was standing. She watched as he slammed a book back onto the shelf. As she got closer, she noticed he was wearing the same house colors as her. Maybe this could be a potential friend?

“Excuse me, but do you know if there are any fairytale books here? Like Sleeping Beauty or Hansel and Gretel?” Sage gave him a smile while holding her bunny a little tighter.

He'd not found anything this whole time. The whole day wasted on searching for something to hold his attention. He'd been just about to leave with nothing to show for all his effort but feeling rather unaccomplished about the whole thing when someone spoke to him. Lips quirking into a small frown he tilted his head to eye the newcomer, taking in the others house colors without really thinking.

Now that he thought about it, he couldn't actually remember the last time he spoke to any of his housemates....

"Fairytales?" he questioned, eyes snapping from the girls robe color to meet her gaze. Fairy tales here? Unlikely. He hadn't seen anything of the sort in all the times he'd been here.

"Doubtful, you're unlikely to find any sort of fairytale like that here. Books on spells, history and magical creatures are what you'll find here." he noted, eyes skimming the books lazily.

"I'd try the library back at Hogwarts if you want something like that unless-" he pulled out a brown book with golden engravings twisting it to show the cover to the girl, revealing a picture of cheese, "you want to learn how to charm cheese." he said before putting the book back in its rightful place with a quick push.

@Sage Greenwood

Sage watched the boy as he glances over the books on the shelves, "Doubtful, you're unlikely to find any sort of fairytale like that here. Books on spells, history and magical creatures are what you'll find here."

Sage feels disappointed that they didn’t have any of the fairy tale books she was use to reading.

“I'd try the library back at Hogwarts if you want something like that unless-” the boy says as he pulls out a brown book with golden engravings over it.

Sage perks up, maybe they did have a book she could read! Her hopes were dashed as quickly as they appeared as soon as she saw the cheese on the cover.

"you want to learn how to charm cheese."  The boy finishes. Putting the book back as quickly as he brought it out. 

Sage let out a sigh of defeat and looks down, of course a magical world wouldn’t want any made up stories mixed in with their reality. Maybe some older kids brought some books she could borrow or she could ask her grandmother to send some? 

Sage suddenly remembers that she was talking to someone. “Sorry about spacing out there for a second, I was thinking of how to solve my problem of not having anything to read that I’m use to.” 

She lets out a small laugh and gives the boy a big smile, “I really appreciate your help though! I’m Sage by the way! Maybe we could be friends?” Sage gets excited at the thought of making her first friend and hugs her bunny.

“We could study together, or sit next to each other during meals, or.....” She trails off, suddenly becoming aware that she is rambling. Sage looks at the boy wondering what he’s thinking. She holds her breath in anticipation, tightening her hold on her bunny. She wonders why she is so nervous.

Elsian raised a brow at the other Gryffindor as she seemed to zone out into her own little world the moment he put the book on cheese away. He almost felt bad seeing how she'd perked up only to deflate once he'd mentioned charming cheese.

Sadly, he could relate as far as the disappointment with the selection went.

He tilted his head once she seemed to snap out of her daze, brushing shaggy strands of hair out of his eyes as she apologized, nodding slightly when she mentioned not having anything to read. "I'm having a hard time finding something to read too." he admitted quickly brushing off the girls apology.

Elsi startled as the others whole attitude seemed to take a u turn. Instantly losing as resemblance of the shy timid girl he'd envisioned when she first spoke to him. He struggled to keep up with the sudden onslaught the conversation, the other-Sage, shooting from thanks to introductions to suddenly talking about everything they could do together all of what felt like the span of a minute.

He blinked for a moment as the girl seemed to trail off, cutting her rambling short as she clutched the bunny she held to her chest eyeing him...expectantly? nervously? He couldn't tell. But at least he could respond now.

"I'm Elsian..." he offered trailing off slightly. Thinking, before deciding quite quickly that yes. This one seemed like a good one. "-but you can call me Elsi then since we're friends and all now." he said giving the other a curious look, he'd never had someone befriend him so...forwardly before.

Or maybe violently was the word he was looking for...

"I'll be honest it looked like you hardly breathed that entire time you spoke." he spoke, face twisting into a bemused look, "slightly worrying." he hummed, shifting to fully face Sage. "It'd look really bad if the first friend I made from my house died the day we met." he teased. "Don't die on me and yes, I think I can arrange sitting next to you at meals and maybe studying together."

@Sage Greenwood