[Day 3, Public]

[anti_nonsense]

[Oh hey, Rita's actually using the network today. Her voice sounds weak and raspy, but she's got some water handy, so she should be able to make it through talking without hurting her throat too much, at least for a while. Besides, this is important.]

Right... so, apparently, I'm not supposed to do anything too strenuous until I've recovered more... which is fine and all, but the thing is... I've already read every book in my trailer three times over.

Anybody got any books I can borrow? Nonfiction is preferred, but frankly, I'm getting desperate.

Comments

[whattaprick]

Strange did give me a couple of history books. Not about magic, though.

[ Which he's skimmed, but, you know. It's awful hard to focus on reading 'em. ]

[anti_nonsense]

History? What, like... about England?

[Because if it's Strange and it's not magic, that would be her next guess.]

[whattaprick]

Military maneuvers in the peninsula.

[ Because that's the next thing anyone should guess Strange would have books about. ]

[anti_nonsense]

[There's a groan.]

Right... I should've guessed...

Well, I suppose it counts... [They're technically books, and they're technically nonfiction, like she wanted.]

[whattaprick]

[ Maybe they'll send her right to sleep and everyone can worry about her a little less! ]

I can drop them off by your trailer when I'm up again.

[ Which won't be until tomorrow. ]

[osteothropy]

How d'ya feel about math?

[Sans is also here in tired and mostly bedridden land.]

[anti_nonsense]

It's an integral part of magic theory, which I specialize in.

[Said proudly, but then, with a hint of eagerness:]

Why? You got something interesting?

[osteothropy]

[Heh. He respects that. It's basically how he reacted to that kind of thing at his age.]

I got a few things you might like. I'm a physicist, myself. But hey, maybe it'll just be telling you stuff you already know.

[anti_nonsense]

You are!? [There's actually a hint of excitement in there, but also... surprise? Hasn't she heard this same guy making idiotic jokes over the radios before? Rita definitely wouldn't have guessed he was the academic sort.]

Could be, but it's worth taking a look. You'd be surprised at the perspectives different worlds can bring, even to fields like math and physics.

[Or maybe he wouldn't be, if he's been exploring alien publications like she has.]

[sworntothesword]

Does the carnival have a library? Or a bookstore?

[ She wasn't throwing out suggestions, she wanted to know herself. ]

[anti_nonsense]

You ever hear of a carnival that does?

[Says Rita, with smug cynicism, like she’s ever been to a carnival before.]

[sworntothesword]

[ Connie is in the same club. ]

I don't really know anything about carnivals. If there was a library I could find a book about one, but I don't know if there is one, hence the paradox.

[anti_nonsense]

[...Okay, that’s fair.]

Well, there isn’t one.

All we’ve got are whatever books the workers here have collected. Until we visit another world with a library, anyway.

[kingsroads]

[ Strange...sounds kind of grumpy, but he's at least pushing some of that grumpiness behind for Rita. ]

I know you've read my book already, but I've another book about English magic I can lend you if you wish.

[anti_nonsense]

That... sounds perfect, actually.

What kind of book is it? [Magic, obviously, but Rita likes specifics.]

[kingsroads]

Another academic text, though a bit more dry than my own. I've lent out Omskirk already, otherwise I'd offer you that as well, so Lancaster it is.

[anti_nonsense]

Dryer than your writing? I think I'll manage. [Considering her criticisms of Strange's book, this sounds like it'll suit Rita just fine.]

... Who'd you lend the other one to?

[espigeon]

I've got a bunch of books, but uh mostly they're poetry or various flavors of fiction. Or about animals.

[anti_nonsense]

... What kinds of animals?

[please be cats]

[espigeon]

Uh, chimpanzees, gorillas, birds, orcas. Dinosaurs. Oh, I guess there's that series about battling fantasy housecat-clans. Forgot I picked that up.

[A thinly veiled expy of Warrior Cats, just in case we ever get an app.]

[anti_nonsense]

I... guess I'll give that last one a try.

[She doesn't care for fiction, but... if it's got cats, then maybe she can make an exception.]

[mylastchance]

Why nonfiction?

[anti_nonsense]

Well, obviously, because learning facts is useful. Storybooks are good for passing time, sure, but that's about it.

[mylastchance]

But if it's one you've read before don't you already know all the facts in it?

[anti_nonsense]

There's plenty of value in reviewing information to keep it fresh in one's mind. Nobody's memory is perfect, after all.