SMV July Quest: Starstruck

Besides, it was his history in that book. He had every right to look at it. More than anyone else in the village did. He should read it, find out exactly what happened to the Dwarf System. This was his past--what happened a lifetime ago couldn't hurt him today.

Then why was he so afraid?

"Excuse me, Alma said you could help me find something?" A soft voice said behind him, female, of course. 

Orcus wouldn't admit that the interruption came as a relief. He glanced over his shoulder at the woman. "Yes?" No one ever came down to the Archives. Was she some sort of researcher? He wondered if she had come in before. Her face looked familiar, but he couldn't place it. 

"I'm looking for a lecture transcript from Isafal, discussing the use of crystals in modern healing technology."

A quick look at this girl told Orcus she was smart, and the way she talked only confirmed it. "That shouldn't be a problem." He took a second, trying to remember where the medical lectures were. "Do you know anyone's names from it?"

"Dr. Alanzano was the lecturer," she told him.

Orcus gestured for her to follow him. "Yeah, I know Alanzano. He's got a shelf to himself." He led her down past a computer terminal and further into the Archives. He knew that he would be able to find it much faster on the Cloud databases, but there was just something about the feel of a book in your hands; the cover's texture, the way the paper smelled. He'd always have the real thing in his hands rather than a digital copy on a screen. "Let's see...Alanzano...here." Orcus plucked a volume from the shelves and turned to give it to her, but suddenly stopped short. Suddenly, it clicked. He remembered where he'd seen that face before. Blue hair, intelligent blue eyes. Sailor Mercury.

Orcus's own eyes widened. He stared at her, frozen in place, like a rabbit that had just been spotted by a hawk.

"Are you...okay?" She asked. 

Orcus wanted to say "yes"*, but his throat had gone dry. He managed a nod.

"May I?" She extended a hand to the book, though did not take it from him. 

Orcus shook himself. "I, uh, sorry." His words slurred together. How was she here, talking to him? She couldn't just be at the library, talking to him like he was someone that Sailor Mercury just talked to. "I, uh, you're Sailor Mercury," he told her, just in case she didn't know. He saw pink flash across her cheeks, and he wanted to smack himself. Great, now he'd embarrassed her. "Sorry, I'm Orcus. Soldier Orcus." Words tumbled out of is mouth carelessly. He would not say that he was a huge fan. Would not. Would not. "I just, you know, always admired you." His hands were shaking as he gesticulated, dropping the book as he did so. He bent down to pick it up, and felt his own face grow hot. "Brains over brawn, that sort of thing--" he rambled, and found himself unable to stop, as much as he tried. He took a deep breath, managed to hand her the transcripts. "It's been, um, very surreal to meet you."

She blinked, as though trying to figure out the mess that just happened in front of her. Then, "Are you a guest here?"

---

"--because we're the keepers of all the knowledge in the universe, but I can't tell you how many people are actually surprised when I tell them there's more to it than just shushing people." It had taken awhile, but Orcus had finally pulled himself together enough to have a real conversation with Sailor Mercury. He'd hastily announced to Alma he was going on lunch, and now sat sipping tea with her at a café not too far from the library. She may have been a princess, but he was a prince--or had been, once. 

Orcus took a sip of his tea to avoid having to answer right away. If he was perfectly honest, he might have told her that he was just homesick. It was easier to hid among the familiar than explore the new, no matter how wonderful it might be. "Not too much," he admitted. He hadn't even found any proper clothes for his job yet, having decided it was easier to transform into Orcus than to actually go out and find a pair of khakis. "I like the library," he told her.

"Me, too." Mercury offered him a cookie. "There's so many resources there, and you and Alma are both really helpful."

Orcus took a cookie, covered with dusty confectionery sugar. "Exactly."

"But that's not really why you came to Crystal Tokyo, is it?" She wasn't accusing him of anything, just mildly curious. 

Orcus chewed thoughtfully. This was it. Probably the only chance he would get to ask. "Why did Queen Serenity pick me to come here?" He asked. "Out of all my teammates, I'm the last one one I would pick."

"Probably because she thought you'd enjoy the trip," Mercury suggested, and drained her teacup. "Do you like the cookies?"

"Yeah," Orcus said, taking another bite.

"Jupiter made them."

Orcus choked.