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[livinginmyglass]

As ever, Viola has responded to what seems to have been a narrow escape from possible death at the hands of a blood-drinking aristocrat by problem-solving. The problem in this case being the question of who the hell was he, and the solution being retreating to the library.

She has collected a formidable stack of books, but her progress through them proves slow, as the slightest sounds make her jump.

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[wings_of_a_swan]

Combeferre, standing on a ladder nearby and balancing a stack of books on one hand, makes a rather large sound as he topples to the ground.

He picks himself up, dusts off his dignity, and sees...Cesario. Probably best to keep thinking of her--him--by that name. "Good day," he says sheepishly.

[livinginmyglass]

The clatter of the falling nearly sends Viola shooting out of her chair.

"O, sir," she gasps, hand pressed to her heart. "Sir, I pray you forgive me, you gave me such a start."

[wings_of_a_swan]

Smoothly done. Making a thundering noise in a library and startling a woman. Sometimes Combeferre despairs of himself.

"No, no, it is I who must beg your forgiveness. I didn't mean to make that awful noise, I'm just an oaf who wasn't taking due care. I'm very sorry for disturbing you." He finishes picking up the books he dropped, and carefully sets them on a table.

[livinginmyglass]

"And wherefore should you be blamed if I am in a state to start at shadows?" she asks with a grin. "And wherefore beg pardon when 'tis you have come near to harm? Came you by any hurt in your fall?" She sets her book aside, ready to assist if needed-- though he's evidently still perfectly upright and mobile.

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Not at all, except to my vanity, thank you," he says. "But I'm happy to see you've found this place! How do you like it thus far?"

[livinginmyglass]

"O it is-- immense." She laughs. "I have never seen such a store of books. I did not know there were so many books in all the world-- and upon any topic one can dream!"

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Yes!" Including the plays of Shakespeare, though Prouvaire had been more than willing to supply him with the information. "Yes, and many of which I never would have dreamed. Are you studying some particular topic, or going where your curiosity takes you?"

[livinginmyglass]

"Well..." She picks up one of the books from her stack. "Know you aught of-- of vampires, sir?" She says it carefully, like a word one has only seen written, but never spoken out loud. Which, of course, it is. And a word she saw for the first time about twenty minutes ago, to boot.

[wings_of_a_swan]

Combeferre frowns. "Yes. Have you encountered one here?"

[livinginmyglass]

"Only just now. I had never heard such of such a thing!" She starts flipping through the pages of the book. "I can find little sense in the writings-- they do not at all accord with one another, and some claim that no such thing exists, but-- the man I met was real enough, I am sure."

[wings_of_a_swan]

Combeferre nods. "No such thing exists in my world." He's fairly certain of this. As a medical student in Paris, an intern at Necker--he would have known. He would have seen drained bodies with bite marks, surely. "But here...there may well be some, come from other worlds. I've met an elf here, and an Egyptian god--why not a vampire?"

[livinginmyglass]

Viola laughs. "No, nor in mine-- or so I believe. Certainly I never saw a man like he." Her hand, without her quite realizing it, has drifted anxiously towards her own neck.

"He was newly come, and most displeased. He wished me to enter his service."

[wings_of_a_swan]

Combeferre frowns, and unconsciously takes a half step forward. "That is most distressing! Did you manage to escape without incident? Did he harm you, or threaten you?"

[livinginmyglass]

"O, I am quite unharmed!" Viola spreads her arms, as if to display the proof of her wholeness. "He did-- he did endeavor, he... would have..." She shudders slightly at the memory. "But I was able to-- dissuade him."

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Good! But oh, what a shame you had to suffer that." Combeferre looks at the book Cesario is reading. "Have you learned anything of use?"

[livinginmyglass]

"It says here--" She opens to a page she marked and offers it to Combeferre. "That vampires are greatly repelled by garlic. But in sufficient quantity, who is not?"

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Hah!" Combeferre says. "But I believe it means physical pain. A cross, holy water, and especially sunlight, I have read, will cause a vampire even greater pain. Perhaps even kill him--as a stake through the heart surely will. But mad--monsieur, he may do you no violence here. At least, such are the rules."

He says this last with a slightly dubious air.

[livinginmyglass]

"And doubtless he will follow them," Viola says with sincerity so complete it somehow goes back around the bend to irony.

--wait, did he just--? She clears her throat, resists the urge to smooth a hand down the front of her doublet.

"In any case, I cannot think I have the strength or courage to drive a stake through a heart. And to do so would likewise violate the rules-- though I must hope a pardon would be given, if 'twas done in self defense."

[wings_of_a_swan]

"I would think so," Combeferre says. He knows his friends have had differences with Security, and for good reason on their part. It seems tyrannical...but surely no one would begrudge a young girl who staked a vampire attempting to kill her. "Some of Security's decisions appear arbitrary, wholly at the whim of whatever officer is dealing with the situation...but I have heard nothing to make me believe anyone would blame you for how you deal with a predatory vampire."

[livinginmyglass]

"Have the constables such power?" Viola asks with genuine curiosity. "There is no lord of this place, of course, but-- are there also no judges before whom malefactors may plead their case?"

[wings_of_a_swan]

"No. As far as I know, there isn't. It's a real failing of this place, especially with so many who are Bound here. It allows injustices. But--I still think you needn't fear they would punish you for defending yourself against a vampire." He pauses. "Do you think he'll seek you out again?"

[livinginmyglass]

"I do not think so, but--" She gestures to the books with a sheepish look. "It is best to be sure, think you not? He did know--"

She breaks off abruptly. Why did she start to say that? And before,did he almost call her--?

[wings_of_a_swan]

"Oh, yes, I think you're very wise to be prepared, and I will happily do anything I can to aid you." Combeferre hesitates. "Know what? He had some special knowledge?"

[livinginmyglass]

"He seemed capable of all manner of wonders," Viola says, hoping her sidestepping of the actual question is sufficiently smooth. "He did-- I know not what to call it. He was by my side, and in an instant he was off 'cross the room, so fast and so sudden I could not see him travel the space between."

[wings_of_a_swan]

It's very smooth, but Combeferre sees through it, though that's largely because he already knows.

He's not about to press the point. "That's a terrifying ability. An ordinary man could only defend against it by sheltering behind crosses or holy water, or in sunlight. Not by fighting, I should think, unless one struck first, and with the element of surprise."