How long have we been waiting for the sequel?

[soundmind]

Who: Maka + everyone that is interested in the book club gathering
Where: Goldenrod bookstore/cafe (bookafe?)
When: 1/1/16; mid morning
Summary: At long last Maka has decided to hold another official book club meeting; this time in Goldenrod considering it's more accessible to people in Johto. Naturally she's invited everyone that would be interested in coming and has set up transportation accordingly.
Rating: PG at the most I guess?? For language at worst, or really bad plot twists
Log:


[New year, new things to look forward to…new books to read, hopefully. Since it's not her own house, Maka doesn't have to set up too much except bringing what books she already owns and is able to carry. They're all gathered up at a table towards the back with a sign specifically posted up reading "Johto Chapter Book Club."

The couple that runs the shop has said they didn't mind the meeting taking place there, at least that's what Kaneki said and Maka trusts his word. It makes sense, anyway, if they're in a bookstore that's also a café, people can more readily get something to eat or drink that they want without any guesswork from Maka. As usual, she's prepared and made sure everyone who might be interested in coming is aware of it and able to have transport over, though Maka still doesn't have an actual idea of what they should be doing in the book club.

Suggestions and discussions might make sense, so if anyone asks she'll say that.]

Comments

Book discussions/suggestions/assorted nerding

[soundmind]

[Don't pretend that's not what y'all are here for.]

[friendyousohard]

[Twilight has like, five books in her bag she wants to talk about and that's after she did a great deal of cutting down.

But she's not going to just drown everyone in babble, so she just sticks with one, for the moment, at least.]

So, who's read March of the Empoleons?

[wing_attack]

[Did someone say bird book someone said bird book.]

I did. It was pretty good.

[soundmind]

I haven't heard of that one, actually. What's it about?

[Besides Empoleons marching around? Maka thinks she's heard of a biker gang called the Empoleons but she doubts that's...what it's referring to.]

[friendyousohard]

It's about the lives of wild Empoleons, and their unevolved forms, down in their natural habitat in the southern part of the world. It was written by a Professor Algae, who apparently spent a few years with a group of "Pokemon Rangers" discovering the information written in it.

[One day, the Professors here are going to run out of plant-related names, and then where will they be?]

The "March" describes their long trek from their summer home to their winter one.

[wing_attack]

Yeah. I read parts of it to Max - he's my Empoleon. He seemed to like it.

[friendyousohard]

Was there anything in there that seemed to be new to him? As far as I could tell most wild members of the Piplup through Empoleon line seem to live very far away from here, so it would be interesting if he lived differently.

[samsa]

[How many books has Kaneki brought?

So many.

Well, okay, he did try to be reasonable about how many books he brought to this particular meeting, but seeing how he got quite a few as presents for Christmas or his birthday, it was hard to leave any behind. On the table in front of him, he sets out two books that are clearly from this world: A Pokemon version of The Chronicles of Narnia with a male Pyroar insignia on the front, and Silence of the Mareep.

The other two aren't as familiar, their covers with kanji printed on them. The Black Goat's Egg and Monochrome Rainbow, both written by the same author, Takatsuki Sen.]

These two are popular back where I'm from.

[He explains to whoever will listen, gesturing to the books in front of him. He's also having to move around a little Azurill sitting in his lap that looks a little nervous about being here, but is doing her best all the same. Meanwhile, his Zangoose is perches on the back of the couch behind him, watching the proceedings intently.]

SURPRISE BITCH, BET YOU THOUGHT YOU'D SEEN THE LAST OF ME

[soundmind]

[Maka already knows what the books are about, though she hasn't gotten the chance to look through the second one since he only just got it. It's his gift, after all, it'd be rude to run off with it before he could spend some time reading. But still, she watches him enthusiastically explain to anyone that will listen about it with a soft smile. The girl still doesn't exactly do well with social gatherings or "club" things, it just becomes easier to handle and even like when members are excited about it.]

I think you were looking forward to this more than me, Mr. Vice-President.

GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN

[samsa]

[Thing is, he probably wouldn't mind letting her have it for a while. After all, he's gone through all of Takatsuki Sen's works an obscene number of times by now.

Kaneki looks over when he hears Maka talking to him, his Azurill peeking nervously over the side of his forearm.]

It's exciting, isn't it? I think we have more people here this time than there were at the first meeting.

[soundmind]

[She laughs, reaching over the table and dragging a Pokemon treat out of her bag to pass over to him for his Azurill--poor thing looks scared out of its wits.]

That's true, but I still think you getting all excited like this is cute. It's probably the most I've seen you smiling in a couple of months.

[And that's barely an exaggeration, not that Maka doesn't think Kaneki isn't justified in not being the most cheerful.]

[samsa]

[He takes the treat from Maka, gingerly holding it in front of his Azurill for her to sniff. Her ears twitch before she starts nibbling on it a little while Kaneki holds it between his fingers.]

I can't help it. I guess I'm still not used to being around this many people who like the same things that I do.

[soundmind]

Can't help being cute?

[She's teasing, evident by the way she just rests her chin in her hands and smiles at him.]

Yeah, sure seems like it. The next meeting will probably have even more people, hopefully we don't run out of books to talk about eventually.

Free mingle stuff

[soundmind]

[For trying to pretend we're not all a bunch of nerds and talk to each other about other stuff, or have coffee, or something.]

Mingle mingle mingle

[sneezelikeakitten]

[Dipper did feel out of place even though he loved books. Being the youngest, smallest, and probably the newest person here didn't help. Despite his demeanor around people, this kid could be shy when faced with others whom he views as peers. Or cooler people in general.

So he'll be sitting by himself, two journals in front of him. One is very worn, the other is new. He's currently writing new notes about vampires with drawings to accompany them. Draculara blew his mind about her kind.]

[soundmind]

[You know what's probably not expected to join Dipper as company?

A Meowstic jumping up onto the table and peering over his notes.

This Meowstic is soon joined by Maka, who sets down a mug of hot chocolate on the table and takes a seat.]

Hey, glad you could make it. Sorry about Freya, she likes to read too, so I brought her.

[sneezelikeakitten]

[You know what's expected of this kid?

To freak out and fall almost out of his chair with a shriek.]

D-Don't do that!

[That's the third time he's been scared like this. When will it ever end?]

... she and Fluffy would get along great.

[soundmind]

[Freya frizzes up in shock, Maka does not, she just leans to the side to make sure Dipper doesn't actually fall over.]

Don't worry, she's harmless. Who's Fluffy?

[sneezelikeakitten]

[Fluffy peeks out from under the table with a dead stare.]

An Espurr that's been following me since Route 29.

[soundmind]

Oh!

[Maka actually looks delighted at seeing the little Espurr and holds out her hand to it to see if it'd like some scritches.]

Freya actually evolved from Espurr, her and her brother Loki. Meowstic look different depending on what gender they are, so you'll never have to worry about telling some of them apart.

[samsa]

[Of course, Kaneki's going to make his way over to Dipper the first chance he gets, taking a seat nearby where Dipper's already sitting. Kaneki's Zangoose seems to be following him everywhere he goes, watching Dipper a bit suspiciously almost as he writes in his journal.]

Is that the journal you had before, Dipper-san?

[He asks in reference to the obviously worn one.]

[sneezelikeakitten]

[Whoa. Guy from the gear! .... Kandykane? Kanida?.... Kaneki!

It's too late to cover the journal with his tiny little arms, so Dipper looks rather seriously at Kaneki.]

Yes. It is.

[samsa]

[YOU GOT IT...EVENTUALLY.]

Wow...how old is it? It looks like something you've had for a long time.

[sneezelikeakitten]

[At least he remembered right away that it started with a K.]

It's old. [Almost thirty years old.]

I've only had it for about a month.

[samsa]

[Ah...so it's been around for a long time, but he hasn't had it long...

Kaneki nods a little, shifting the book in his grip that he carried with him.]

I see. I actually have a book with me here that I had back home, too. It's one of my favorites, written by my favorite author Takatsuki Sen.