in a sea of knowledge [OPEN]

It wasn't a very uncommon thing not to be able to read. After all, there were more important skillsets, like scavanging for food and being able to cook the food that you scavanged, rather than reading random symbols on a page from a history that wasn't yours. However, when she'd been alive, his mother hated that philosophy. She always complained of the post-world phenomenon, of people being unable to read and write and speak properly, intelectually. She had hated it so much that she made sure that her children knew how to read, how to write, how to be civilized in an uncivilized world. Except she'd died when David was ten, and his father had never cared for books. He'd said they were stupid and a waste of time.

Needless to say, reading and writing were lost arts. The last thing that David expected to see upon his exploration of The Base was a library. He had never seen one in person before. At "home", there had been a bookshelf but it was small and contained only a few tattered novels. Nothing like picture books. The teenager explored the large building with an expression something like childlike enthusiasm, though desperately contained.

He wasn't supposed to be here. Not that it was "off limits" exactly, but because he was supposed to be at work. That small slip of paper that he had found in the urn labeled him as a Miner, which wasn't bad, just boring and lonely, and David hadn't been able to stay down there for long. It was his break time.

A pale-colored book with a purple binding caught his eye. It had cursive letters in deep gold written beautifully across the front and it was titled MAGIC FOR BEGINNERS. Part of David had been disappointed when he realized his job in this small group was to be a Miner, because some part of him had always been interested in trifling with magic. A few of his friends had been able to use magic, and there had been a few sorcerers his father had worked with once upon a time, but in general, David's use and experience with magic was limited.

The Library was mostly empty - eerily so - and so David didn't think it would be very hard to find a quiet place of his own. A red comfy chair caught his eye, and the teenager made his way toward it. However, soon enough, he realized that it was already taken. A small boy with sandy hair was situated in it, eyes glued to a book. The Miner tucked his own book underneath his armpit and cleared his throat. "Well, hey. I thought I was the only one here." He gave a smile, and tried to peer over to see what the boy was reading. "I'm David, " he said and thrust a hand out, his tone friendly. "What're you reading?"

ooc - jkflasdfjdkla alex is too cute

[/style]

The small boy, who couldn't have been much older than thirteen or fourteen, reminded David of his brothers. The thought made his stomach twist into knots for a reason that he didn't really want to think about. It couldn't possibly have been guilt, for abandoning Kevin, Matthew and Michelle, because it wasn't his fault. It was better that he had left, because he couldn't have done anything for them. If they had continued to go the way that they were going, they would have most certainly died of starvation or stress.

"Alexander?" David repeated, as though testing the name on his tongue. It was a nice name. His mother would have liked that name too. "Nice t'meet 'cha! Can I call you Alex?" The teenager pulled upa a chair and seated himself in it, gaze drawn to the book that was cradled in the younger boy's hands. Alex was much more innocent and naive than any of his siblings. With his blond curls and round face, he looked even younger than Michelle. David was tempted to ask him how old he was and where his parents were, but he didn't want to pry.

Instead, the Miner inclined his head closer as Alex pushed the book between them. The pictures in the book were beautiful and eloquently drawn, and even David could find himself drawn to this strange, foreign world as though he were standing in the middle of it. "... wait. " A pause, and then, suddenly, David laughed. "It's not Way-lees. It's Wales. You know, like whales? " He may have not read in at least half a decade, may not have really known where the place was or what any of the words in the book actually meant, but he was not so ignorant as to have forgotten his mother's teachings.

"It's very pretty, " David agreed with a nod. His eyes drifted again, this time to the millions of bookshelves that lined the edges of the library. "But this place is awfully pretty too, don't y'think?" Because it was - it was extravagant and gorgeous, and even all the miles that he'd traveled, David had never seen quite a place like it. Then he looked back at the book, leaning forward as if to say "Can I?" before flipping to the next page. It was another gorgeous photograph, this one littered with millions of boats on a shoreline. "It seems like a really nice place to live." And not only because it was pretty, but because it seemed safe. However, a part of David (the more rational part) realized that this was just a dream. The aftermath of the war had ruined almost everything, which probably included Wales as well.

There was a silence that draped over them and stuck itself between them, and David looked curiously over at the boy. Then he started, because he realized that Alex had noticed the book tucked underneath his arm. " Er - " he tried to explain, but was cut off by the boy's enthusiastic assumption. He put his hands up and shook his head, and the thin book slipped onto his lap. " I wish! But no. I'm not, I mean, a Wizard. " A pause and he sighed, though his expression wasn't sad or upset. Just resigned. "I'm a Miner. Or at least, that's what they told me I was." Even then, David didn't know which "they" he was referring to exactly. "It's actually my break, " he said, and his words were accompanied by a sheepish smile with a boyish tinge. "I don't think I'm supposed to be here, but I couldn't really resist. " David grinned. "Looks like you couldn't either."

ooc - awwwwhr so cute ;w;

[/style]

Although he had always been generally well-liked, and a handful of friends to call on at a moments notice, David couldn't remember ever getting a nickname. Dave sounded like it was for a middle-aged man who couldn't quite kick his nicotine addiction, or a juvenile delinquent who had been caught writing grafitti on too many desks. Davie sounded like it was for an immature kid, a kid who threw fits and cried until his throat was clogged, just because he'd tripped on the sidewalk. David always seemed to fit David best, and it hadn't ever been a thing that he'd questioned. "Alex, then, " he said, even if Alexander might have fit the young boy better.

Alex's response at David's correction could only make the teenager laugh. He didn't know much, but he knew enough, and he was glad to find the blond so accepting. The two of them were hunched over the colorful book, eying the beautiful pictures painted inside. It seemed like such a nice place to be. At that, a part of David ached. Why had the world gone and destroyed itself?

Being the older brother for so long naturally made him a good teacher, or so he'd been told. Because he was the oldest, David usually knew how to interact with others and he enjoyed it too. He had patience and was generally easygoing, but sometimes that made him a little bit of a pushover.

The Miner suddenly blinked at Alex's indirect compliment, and a light blush dusted his cheeks. A breezy laugh puffed out, "Oh geeze. I've never been told that! Do I look smart?" He patted his cheeks and his hair, somewhat making a mockery of himself. "I don't even have my glasses on me." It was silly and stupid, but David hoped it would bring a smile to the young blonde's face.

What it did, however, was the opposite. The glee was immediately dried out from Alexander's face, his expression sunken and almost sad. "Thalo?" It wasn't a name he was familiar with. He was sure that he must have heard it somewhere before, but it certainly didn't belong to anyone he knew. If this "Thalo" worked in the mines, however, David was sure to have either seen her or heard her talked about. The Miners were a very closeknit group from what he understood, although he hadn't really been able to stay down there long enough to mingle with them.

David wasn't scared of the mine. There wasn't some hidden fear deep inside his chest everytime he looked at the dark walls and even darker caverns. There were no nightmares that pitched out him when he passed out on his bed attached to his work in the mines, however minimal it was. The mines simply made him antsy. Not only was David completely unfamiliar with the turf, but he didn't like the concept of being trapped down there. It made him uncomfortable, like there was something he was supposed to be doing, some precaution he was supposed to be taking, that he wasn't.

"Well, I'm not very good at it yet. I only got here a couple of days ago, " the teenager admitted sheepishly and shifted. The sunlight filtered through the window and draped itself across his shoulders, casting a shadow onto the carpeted floor. "I've heard though that you can find really cool things! Some of the other miners found real treasures, like golden watches or diamonds. " Okay, that was a lie. Only a half-lie, really. David was sure that someone must have found something worthwhile eventually even if the boy didn't personally know anyone who had. It would just take some time and patience, he was sure. The anxiety that came with working the mine would eventually wither away too. It had to, didn't it?

"Being a Wizard sounds like it'd be really neat, though, don't you think?" David murmured, dark eyes flickering over to the pale-colored book in his lap. He brushed his fingers across the fancy cold lettering, entranced by the cover. Magic was always something he's been intruigued with. Something that he thought would always be helpful. He'd had a friend once that had been quite good at magic, good at healing and conjuring sparks out of thin air, but David knew that there must have been more to it. Magic could do the impossible. Maybe it could even create food or shelter. With a flick of the finger, and a few breathless mutterings, it could save someone's life. Maybe it could have saved his mother's life. David looked up again, cocking his head at Alexander. "Do you know any magic? Wait. What's your job?"

The conversation changed again, and went back to the Library. It was pretty gigantic and extravagant, if David said so himself. He had never quite seen something so grand. "I'm sure we'll have time to explore it. There's probably books on everything here!" The miner grinned, his expression enthusiastic, but it soon fell as the conversation turned more serious. David's expression turned strange, just for a moment, as if he was thinking of something else but he smiled again. "Yeah, my mom taught me too." He leaned forward a little bit, his elbow touching the plush arm of the chair he was sitting in. "Pffft, of course not! No one comes out knowing how to read. Well, maybe geniuses. But I'm no genius. " David was still very interested in the book, but he found his conversation with Alex more interesting. It had been a while since he'd been able to talk to someone, let alone make friends with them. "My mom taught me when I was little. She always hated the fact that kids aren't being taught to read and write regularly anymore. " Another pause, and David seemed hesitant. Then, "... I don't read so much anymore, so there's a lot I forgot. I still know the basic stuff, though."

ooc - wow this convo is getting srs

[/style]